The Erie City Mission‘s plan to convert a shuttered Millcreek Township elementary school into a housing facility for women and children in need has received the crucial zoning approval it needed to move forward.
Millcreek’s Zoning Hearing Board on June 24 unanimously signed off on the City Mission’s request for what’s known as a special exception for the adapted reuse of a nonresidential structure regarding the proposed new shelter, planned for the former Our Lady of Mount Carmel Elementary School, 1553 East Grandview Blvd.
The former Mount Carmel Elementary School at 1553 East Grandview Blvd. in Millcreek Township.
The area is zoned for residential use, and the type of housing-based facility that the City Mission wants to create is not a specific use permitted in that area under township zoning rules.
However, the Zoning Hearing Board agreed that the City Mission project qualifies as an acceptable use under the township’s zoning laws.
Brian Johansson, the City Mission’s CEO, said after the zoning board’s decision that “this will start the process of permitting, and construction to develop a welcoming and nurturing environment for up to 70 women and children” at the proposed shelter, which could be open within 18 to 24 months.
“We are very excited,” Johansson said.
No public appeal opposing the project’s zoning request was filed by the May 18 deadline for doing so.
Community need
The City Mission, a faith-based nonprofit that helps those affected by homelessness, poverty and addiction, has offered to purchase the school building and related acreage from Mount Carmel’s parish for $1.8 million, Johansson said. The City Mission has also raised several million dollars privately for the project.
The Mount Carmel site has been closed since the 2016-17 school year. The property purchase, Johansson has said, was contingent upon zoning approval from Millcreek officials.
Johansson told the Zoning Hearing Board that the shelter fits with the City Mission’s long-range strategic plan.
He also said the City Mission is exploring potential collaborations with local nonprofits/agencies that serve the homeless and women/children as part of the shelter plan. Those potential partners include the Mercy Center for Women;SafeNet; Erie’s Women’s Care Center; and Erie DAWN.
Brian Johansson, chief executive office of the Erie City Mission.
Further, Johansson said the City Mission recently hosted a public meeting, attended by roughly 85 people, that included residents living near the Mount Carmel property to explain the project to them.
“There was a really wonderful response from them,” Johansson said. “I really was encouraged by that.”
He told the board the City Mission is pursuing the project because there is a substantial need for additional housing in the Erie region for women and children facing homelessness or other hardships.
He said women and their children “can be in crisis for many reasons: domestic violence, economic issues, addiction, trafficking,” Johansson said. “There are limited beds in Erie County.”
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at@ETNflowers.
(This story was updated to add a photo gallery.)
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie City Mission gets Millcreek’s OK for new shelter