Millikin building sold to Mosdos Ohr Hatorah

CH-UH Board of Education approves the sale of Millikin to Mosdos Ohr Hatorah at its Aug. 19 meeting.

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After years of negotiations and discussions, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District has agreed to sell most of the former Millikin Elementary School property to local private K–8 school Mosdos Ohr Hatorah.

The sale was approved by the Board of Education at its Aug. 19 work session. The board agreed to sell the Millikin building to Mosdos for $650,000. The sale does not include the adjacent stables property, which the district will retain. 

The sales agreement is subject to several contingencies:

• The District must obtain an easement from the stable property to Severance Circle. 
• The District must identify or obtain alternative space for its tradespeople who currently work out of the Millikin facility. 
• Mosdos must obtain a conditional use permit from the City of Cleveland Heights to use the property as a nonpublic school.
• Mosdos must obtain financing on satisfactory terms from the City of Cleveland Heights.
  
  

“We are very happy to finally arrive at an agreement with Mosdos that benefits their community, our school district and the Millikin neighborhood,” said CH-UH Board President Ron Register. “We have been discussing how to make the best use of this property for nearly 10 years, and Mosdos has been interested in the facility for nearly as long. The difficulties inherent in any real estate negotiation, compounded by the economic upheaval of the recession, have meant that this process has taken longer than anticipated. However, we have now come to a fair price and an agreement that works for everyone, and we are especially glad that this building will be put to its intended and former use: educating children.”

Kal Zucker, board member, said, “Privatization of public land should always be given careful thought. I’m proud of my colleagues, both past and present, for the depth of thought and gravity they have all shown this issue. The City of Cleveland Heights has advocated for Mosdos to acquire this property for quite some time; we have approved this deal in a show of good will to the City of Cleveland Heights. I hope they, and all of you, will remember this spirit and this gesture as we work together to create the future.” 

The district and Mosdos agreed to address and resolve the contingencies within 120 days. After the sale is finalized, the board is committed to using the proceeds to enhance [its] facilities plans where appropriate.