Oberlin City Council Approves Transfer of Former Eastwood School Property to Y.U. 
Properties

Council voted unanimously to authorize the City Manager to facilitate the transfer of the former Eastwood Elementary School property at 198 East College St. to Y.U. Properties LLC for residential and potential mixed-use redevelopment. Because the Oberlin City School District is not legally permitted to sell the property directly to the developer, the City will act as an intermediary. Council’s action, which goes into immediate effect, allows the District to transfer the vacant building to the City, which will then transfer it to Y.U. Properties. School Board President Jo-Anne Stegall said the board voted unanimously earlier that same evening to approve the sale of the property as well as the City’s role as an intermediary. The sale received pushback from community members at a recent public listening session due to concerns about unwanted development and the developer’s ties to the Israeli defense industry. Councilmember Jessa New, who was not present, issued a statement emphasizing that they value residents’ expressions of concern but said that it is important to rely on well-sourced information and avoid hateful rhetoric in public feedback. Council President Eboni A. Johnson, OC ’97, highlighted that Council’s vote was only to be a financial channel for the transfer, rather than approving the sale itself.

EV Carshare Partnership Renewed for Five Years

Council unanimously approved the renewal of the City’s partnership with Sway Mobility Inc. for a five-year electric vehicle carshare program. CEO Michael Peters said the program will continue operating four electric vehicles, two funded by the City and two by Oberlin College. Council was only voting to approve the two vehicles funded by the City. According to Peters, Oberlin is the only city in Ohio to offer a community carshare program of this sort, and one of very few in the U.S. Transportation accounts for 18 percent of Oberlin’s greenhouse gas emissions, tied for second with residential gas use, and officials said the program supports goals in the City’s Climate Action Plan. The renewed agreement reduces costs to the City by removing a revenue-share component and will be funded through a $163,394 Sustainable Reserve Fund grant.

Council Updates Contract Related to East Vine Street Bridge Renovations

Council also unanimously passed an ordinance on first reading authorizing a $5,500 amendment to its engineering and design services contract with American Structurepoint, Inc. for the East Vine Street Bridge replacement over Plum Creek. Public Works Director Jeff Baumann said the change reflects a better design solution after complications arose relocating a sanitary sewer line during construction. The amendment brings the total engineering contract to $337,422 and will be covered by the Wastewater Reserve Fund. The ordinance takes immediate effect to avoid further project delays.

In a separate but related action, Council unanimously approved an ordinance amending its agreement with Shaffer, Johnston, Lichtenwalter & Associates, Inc. by $8,452 for additional services tied to the South Pleasant Street Bridge replacement, bringing the total contract value to $180,272. The project remains on track, with the amendment going into immediate effect.