North Toledo: Leverette could revitalize neighborhood

11/9/2005

Officials for Toledo Public Schools say the new Leverette Middle School, which will be built across from the district's administration building, will help revitalize that north Toledo neighborhood.

Dan Burns, TPS chief business manager, said the district's new construction program will help neighborhoods through the city.

"With the new schools, we think it will be great for enrollment and a catalyst for additional economical development," Mr. Burns said.

The district broke ground last week for the new Leverette, the new Libbey Middle School at the former Gunckel Elementary at Nebraska and Division streets, and the new Bowsher High School on the campus of Medical University of Ohio.

The new Leverette will be 80,000 square feet and cost about $12 million. The estimated completion date is April, 2007.

The Toledo Plan Commission approved a special-use permit in March for an improved Leverette Middle School design.

The school will have more brick than an earlier version, and a sloped roof instead of a flat roof.

Two hundred area residents attended a meeting on March 1 to review the plans after community groups complained about an original design.

The revised design added about $400,000 to a previous budget for the building.

Seventy-seven percent of the Toledo Public Schools new building program, which may total about $770 million, is being funded by the state. The remainder is paid for by local property owners from a 4.99-mill, 28-year levy voters approved in 2002.

The construction program was originally to replace 57 schools and renovate seven others but was scaled back because of district enrollment declines.

Libbey Middle School will also cost about $12 million and will be 80,000 square feet. The estimated completion date is February, 2007.

Bowsher High school will cost about $39.8 million and will be 235,000 square feet. It should be complete by November, 2008.

Contact Ignazio Messina at:

imessina@theblade.com

or 419-724-6171.