McArthur School Auction & Zoning updated 2/16/05, updated 10/4/04, new 9/13/04

new 2/16/05 Second time's a charm - at least for rezoning; we'll see about auctioning. Chillicothe City Schools got their Plan B halfway achieved for the former McArthur School when City Council rezoned it at their second and downgraded request February 14th.

Chillicothe City Council seconded the Zoning and Planning Board's recommendation to rezone the former McArthur School at 1049 Columbus Street, in Chillicothe's southeast corner, from R-8 to R-18. They school system backed down form the maximum R-48 that the school system had requested earlier (see below). The Chillicothe Gazette placed their story on page four of section B in Tuesday's paper.

Debate on this second rezoning was the second topic in City Council's February 14th public hearing:

Sheryl McCorkle president of the Board of Education

• The rezoning and auction is especially important, since the levy failed

Joe Cryster 1006 Dayton St.

• still at same position - neighborhood still opposed
• heard mentioned that property did not need rezoning to be a nursing home
• neighborhood very opposed to rezoning for low-income housing - unless single family houses
• levy would pass if schools worked with community
• sale of school intended to get the most money but will damage neighborhood
• don't have police and fire services needed in neighborhood
• haven't seen a good plan yet

Tom Young resident of Yaple's Orcchard

• employee of school, so vested interest in sale
• Joe had good points but some errors: R-8 not allow nursing home; R-18 asked for
• not want to see abandoned - doubt if anyone willing to demolish building and build homes
• if abandoned will sit and deteriorate

Someone with a teacher's salary lives in upscale Yaples Orchard? Lobbying on behalf of a school district that is desperate for money?

Evelyn(?) Stewart Dayton St.

• not want to see any more apartments - nothing but trouble
• why not fix up school - not that old - keep it in use instead of new building

Mike Trego Chillicothe City Schools Superintendant

• figures it will take him 20-25 years to become an accepted Chillicothe resident...
• pumping $28,000-30,000 year to maintain McArthur School = salary of one teacher
• each window is $108? $508? [I didn't type fast enough to be certain]
• hole in the bucket that money keeps flowing out of system

Joe Cryster again, with permission

• just now heard about windows constantly being broken - shows not enough police
• current zoning is adequate for nursing, he heard
• may be hard to redevelop into houses, but worth doing
• can't see how plywood over a broken window costs that much
• just because the Ohio School Facilities Commission is offering money doesn't mean the schools need to build new

Hearing closed

Later, during the council's legislative session, the issue was further discussed:

Bob Schoultz city council president

• is McArthur proposed R-18 same as nursing home?
• Vandalism? Parks department has to put up with vandalism - more vandals than police - but more citizens than vandals - public has to work to prevent vandalism

Bart Henshaw city council member (D, at-large)

• Joe Cryster's comments contradict some of her research into neighborhood
• concerns on rumors of redeveloper buyer...

...responded to by Mike Trego Chillicothe City Schools Superintendant

• if rezoned R-18, two entities interested:
1. Possible ambulance hub - 10 jobs at least, some of facility for community functions, local[?] EMT training
2. Group of investors - not know much about - they contacted realtor Madru for info
• if they get it, they will need to look into other zoning

(Next to me, Joe Cryster shook his head and commented "commercial zoning")

Pat Patrick city council member

• would like more time to research...

Toni Eddy city council counsel

• can't vote for rezoning with certain business in mind - must be general...

Jonathon Schobelock city council member

• Own mother lives near McArthur School- knowing what he knows, he supports rezoning

Jean Malone city council member

• McArthur School in her ward, only 1 contact: asking what zoning...no other contacts

After the third reading of the McArthur School rezoning:

Eric A. Rinehart II city council member and Development Chairman

• Rezoning is ordinary legislation so in effect 30 days after passing
• in lawsuit for similar voting [Barlow property / Walgreens issue] - must keep in mind what is known
• This is a public building that can be sold only by auction - council should act to facilitate the auction

Council should act in the public interest. Is allowing this zoning in this neighborhood in the public interest of this neighborhood? Of the city in general?

The McArthur School rezoning passed 6:1 with Pat Patrick as the solitary "no."

Rezone Attempt Number One

new 9/13/04 Chillicothe City Schools gave up on getting the former McArthur School rezoned. If it is to be rezoned, the new owner will need to restart the process all over again.

An article on the topic was in "School Auction Date Set" on WBEX/Clear Channel Chillicothe, from which some of this information was taken.

It sounds like the public school system finally listened to its public...begrudgingly. If anything happens with McArthur now, there's a lot less chance it will come in under the radar, though it might be forced hard. Now let's keep an eye on the other schools that they will be threatening: Smith Jr. High, Western School Building (administration), and Tiffin Elementary.

The auction of the school, some materials inside it, and and some vehicles will be 10 am Friday September 25th.

At the previous city council August 23d, council member Cindy Henderson said she was upset about the rezoning of the school property, and was very concerned about the "fragile neighborhood" it is in. Council Clerk John Fosson mentioned something about a letter sent that was opposed to the rezoning, but my notes are unclear and I'm not sure if he sent it, received it, or was requesting more.

update 10/4/04 At the auction, plenty was sold - except the school building. The Gazette had a front-page article on it.

Did the "interested parties" not bid because the school system failed to get the property rezoned? Probably. And they probably knew they could not get it rezoned themselves now that the surrounding neighborhood has an idea of what some developers want to put into their neighborhood.

So maybe now the school system needs to communicate with their neighbors to be able to do what's best for the schools and the community.