CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO) – “These are an installation by a local artist, Dana Depew,” Shannon Morris of ARTFUL Cleveland explained as she walked through the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus building. “And they’re ready to go to a new location, because now we have to be out by January 31.”
The former Coventry Elementary School became studio complex for artists, the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus.
“We renovated this lobby so we have rotating art exhibits,” said Morris. “So many people come in who have never been inside of an art gallery.”
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board of Trustees bought the building from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District in 2018 and the library estimates since then they’ve spent almost a half million dollars since then on upkeep not covered by the tenants. And the building needs renovations.
“Two-point-eight million dollars by their estimate,” Deborah Herrmann, financial officer for the library, told Cleveland Heights City Council at a Special Committee Meeting of the Whole on October 8.
“The library has invested quite a bit or taxpayer money and funding in this building that’s not open the public and is run by private organizations,” Herrmann said.
But, Cleveland Heights City Council supports the artists.
“I urge all of my fellow council members to join me in supporting the P.E.A.C.E. campus efforts,” said Councilman Craig Cobb at the council meeting October 7.
“Everybody knows that this is a part of the community and it enriches the community,” said Morris. “Having a vacant building here isn’t good for anybody.”
“If they had a, ‘we’re going to do this,’ it would make more sense,” Morris continued. “But right now, it doesn’t make any sense so it’s very hard for me to accept.”
Board President Nancy Levin said the board wants to take some time to decide what to do with the building. If they repurpose it, they’d need it vacated to do renovations. She also says they could also raze it.
“We have thirty-four artists who need new homes in the immediate future,” said Morris. “My heart breaks. It really does.”
Nine of the twelve tenants of the P.E.A.C.E. campus need to be out by January 31, while the other three will have their leases shortened.
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