Planting seeds to grow new uses for old Coventry School

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District hosted a meeting on May 5 to update the Coventry Village neighborhood about current leasing activity in the former Coventry School building, which has seen little use since the school’s closing in 2007. Steve Shergalis, business manager for the school district, announced that 40,000 of the 60,000 square feet of available space will be occupied for at least the next 12 months by three well-established community service organizations.

The 105-year-old Cleveland Sight Center is renovating its Cleveland facility and, while located at the Coventry School, will open its preschool classroom to both blind and sighted children, and an adult employment phone training center. The center is also moving 109 employees and a retail store to the Rockefeller Pointe building on Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights. The center has a few openings in the preschool for sighted children, and is seeking volunteers from the community. For information, call 216-791-8118 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            216-791-8118      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

The award-winning Ensemble Theatre, established in Cleveland Heights in 1979, has had its base of operations at the Coventry School since early this year, and expects to extend its lease for another year this August. Its programming includes producing plays, theater education in the schools, and a series of theatrical workshops beginning this spring. Volunteer opportunities are available. For information, call 216-321-2930 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            216-321-2930      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

The district is in discussions with Andrew Auten, owner of The Open Office, a shared collaborative workspace for small and home-based businesses. Auten is looking to set up shop in Coventry Village. Because it is not an education-based organization, it will need a variance from the City of Cleveland Heights to operate on the premises.