AVON LAKE, Ohio — The city is looking to purchase the former Erieview Elementary School on Electric Boulevard for use as a community center.
The city is expected to pay Avon Lake City Schools for $500,000 for the building, according to a city news release. Payments would be deferred until January 2027.
The purchase is pending approval by both the Board of Education and City Council, as well as the completion of a facility assessment conducted by the city through a third party, the news release noted.
The city plans to repurpose the Erieview facility as a community center for enhanced and expanded recreational programming for all ages, social services and community meeting spaces, according to the news release.
Erieview Elementary opened in 1951 and was closed after the 2024-2025 school year as part of a school district plan to consolidate buildings and reduce operating costs.
“The Erieview facility presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the city to enhance services to the community and breathe new life into a space that holds a special place in our history,” Mayor Mark Spaetzel said in the news release.
“We have limited space for recreation programs in our existing facilities, and the demand is high.
“Erieview is well positioned to meet our recreation and community engagement needs with its central location, spacious classrooms, gymnasium and outdoor areas.”
The purchase of the Erieview facility will be funded through the city’s Recreation Trust Fund, a special fund established to support public recreation, the news release noted.
No dollars will be used from the General Fund, which pays for core services such as police, fire and public works.
“Our vision is to transform Erieview into a vibrant community center and maximize its use year-round,” Spaetzel said in the news release.
“The city will benefit from having the ability to make capital improvements incrementally in a phased approach, which is something the schools simply would not have been able to do.
“We will also explore utilizing part of the facility to generate new revenue for the city.
“This is a very exciting win-win opportunity, and I want to thank Avon Lake City Schools for their continued partnership as we imagine a new future for Erieview.”
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