On Wednesday, the Planning Commission voted 2–1 to recommend the City Council consider a proposal to rezone the decommissioned Eastwood Elementary School to allow for development of office space.

Liberty Development Company, the Ohio contractor that registered the measure, said office use will hopefully be a stepping stone between the current empty building and constructing new multi-family housing. 

Dru Siley, development vice president at Liberty who presented the company’s plan at the meeting, said it was clear that Oberlin citizens need more housing. However, he argued that developing the property for housing first was not realistic, and it would be better to rezone it for mixed-use development for the present moment.

Several members of the commission were unsatisfied with Liberty’s proposal, wanting more immediate housing and demolition of the Eastwood Elementary School, which is beginning to deteriorate. Vice Chair Bryan Burgess argued that the property would be better as an empty field over an empty building.

Committee member Jill Sawyer disagreed, arguing for what she felt was a “solidly incremental” plan. She contested that an empty field is not as valuable as a building that is being used. 

Sawyer also recalled a doomed attempt to repurpose the property in 2022. That March, the Planning Commission — then with a different roster — unanimously voted to suggest the Council rezone the school property to be eligible for use as office, classroom, and storage space. The City planned to exchange the property with the College for other property in town. The College intended to use the extra space temporarily during renovation related to the Sustainable Infrastructure Plan.

Ultimately, the City Council voted against the measure to turn the property over to the College following resistance from community members and City Councilmembers, many of whom wanted to secure more housing. Since then, the property has remained unused.

“City Council had the opportunity to discuss [the Eastwood property],” Sawyer said. “I think there was huge disappointment in the way that turned out.” 

At the meeting, committee members again argued that residential construction should be the highest priority. Burgess said he doubted that Liberty would follow through on constructing housing after the office space went into use, pointing out that developers have reneged on promises in the past. 

All committee members agreed that the decommissioned elementary school should not continue to sit empty on tenable land, but the path forward remains unclear. 

Ultimately, the Planning Commission voted 2-1 for the proposal to be sent to City Council for consideration. It was noted that all Oberlin residents would be notified by the City when the measure was to be considered by City Council and that community members would be encouraged to share their thoughts.