Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education and Cleveland Heights City Council special joint meeting highlights 10-28-2014

OCTOBER 28, 2014

• School facilities renovation
• Possible tax initiatives
• Turkey Ridge
• Motorcars Honda/Toyota
• Streetscapes
• Other development plans
• Safe Routes to School
  
  

All board and council members were present.

School facilities renovation

The board has approved the schematic design phase and the accompanying budget for the high school renovation project. Budget reconciliation for the total project will be presented and approved in the next phase of the project, the development phase.

The lower level of the high school will house the pool, two gyms, locker rooms, public changing rooms, and the career tech area. The entry is from Washington Boulevard. The building will be closer to the street than it is currently, decreasing parking. Many parking options are being considered, including use of the city lot across Cedar Road. Traffic patterns are also still under consideration. City streetscape improvement plans will mesh with the project.

The second level will encompass a restored courtyard, clock tower, and original entry. The science wing will be torn down to expose the courtyard and entry to Cedar Road. The courtyard will be green space with sidewalks and some seating. New wings on either side of the courtyard will reflect the original architecture. This level will also include the administrative office complex, library, auditorium, mini-auditorium, cafeteria, visual and performing arts, and special education. The building will be entirely handicapped-accessible and meet all ADA requirements.

The third level will have two classroom wings, a central locker and gathering area, teachers’ spaces, and two large project rooms. The smaller upper level will be the vocal music space.

Fewer entrances and good interior views will enhance safety and security. Windows will be historically appropriate and capable of being opened; the amount of light will be a noticeable feature. Although fewer than in the current building, classrooms will be larger and better configured. Circulation will be simpler, to make it easier to move from class to class.

All competitive athletics will continue, although some will be relocated during renovation.

From now through January, the design development phase will make the spaces work for their function. There will be a meeting for residents living near the high school, and the project will be presented to the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission in December.

Wiley has been designated as the swing space, where Heights High students will go during the renovation of the high school, and later where middle school students will go during the renovation of Roxboro and Monticello middle schools. To accommodate the increased number of students, a second gym will be added, as well as a vocal music area, and modular pre-fabricated classrooms with connecting corridors. Approval from University Heights City Council has not yet been finalized.

Use of vacant buildings will be discussed later. Jeff Coryell suggested that a discussion is also needed about the use of the Coventry School building and its grounds.

Possible tax initiatives

Due to the $2.5 million cut in state revenue to the city and the elimination of the inheritance tax, the city’s 2015 budget process will include council discussion for additional revenue needs. Voters could be asked for a property or income tax increase next November. The school district may also need an operating levy next year. Ron Register suggested that the city and the school district have an ongoing discussion on this.

Turkey Ridge

The proposed Turkey Ridge project on Edgehill Road will not proceed because developers found their costs to be higher than expected.

Motorcars Honda/Toyota

Motorcars Honda/Toyota is making a $2.5 million investment in the city by constructing a new service area off Mayfield Road, which will include an array of solar panels. The project has already received planning commission approval.

Streetscapes

A $1.5 million grant from the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency (NOACA) will enable the city to start work in the spring on a new Lee Road streetscape, from Superior Road to the Lee Road Library, which will include new lighting, enhanced crosswalks, and other pedestrian improvements. A streetscape project at Cedar Fairmount will feature a bike trail connecting to University Circle.

Other development plans

Other plans include expansion of Gigi’s on Fairmount, and, on Lee Road, a new eating disorders clinic and a home health care business.

Safe Routes to School

Mary Dunbar, council member, reported that the city had received a small grant from a federal program that encourages safe walking and biking to school. The money will enable the city to map out routes and make infrastructure improvements, such as bike racks and crosswalks, in the neighborhoods around Roxboro, Oxford and Canterbury schools, Hebrew Academy, and Monticello Middle School. More money can be applied for to expand to other schools.

LWV Observer: Nancy Dietrich.

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse, and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.