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Plan Commission approves special-use permit to convert St. Anthony’s into community center; land bank and city remain partners
Summary
The Plan Commission approved a special-use permit allowing conversion of the former St. Anthony’s Church at 601 Junction Avenue into a community center. Lucas County Land Bank and city staff described fundraising, community engagement and planned operations by the Parks and Youth Services Department.
The Toledo City Plan Commission voted unanimously to grant a special-use permit for a proposed community center at the former St. Anthony’s Church, 601 Junction Avenue. The applicant team — represented by Chantay Brownlee of the Lucas County Land Bank and by City representative Joe Fosnaugh of the Parks and Youth Services Department — described six years of community engagement and secured funding for renovation.
Chantay Brownlee said the land bank negotiated a donation of the building from the Catholic Diocese in 2018 and has since raised $6 million for stabilization and redevelopment. The land bank presented community outreach results it said showed strong neighborhood support for a multipurpose community space that would host recreation, workforce development and youth programming. Brownlee said housing and retail had been considered and largely ruled out for structural or market reasons; a multipurpose community facility best matched community input.
City director Joe Fosnaugh told commissioners the city intends to take ownership after renovation and operate the facility through Parks and Youth Services. The city plans a facility-management process with neighborhood leaders to keep the building activated for local uses including athletic training, youth programming, meetings and events.
The applicant asked that several conditions tied to traffic and landscaping (including screening around a required retention basin and review of a potential mid‑block pedestrian crossing) be left for final adjustment to the planning director and the director of transportation; commissioners agreed to allow final details to be resolved at staff level, and transportation confirmed acceptance of the proposed approach. Commissioners also asked applicants to add hedges or other screening around a proposed retention basin along Nebraska Avenue to reduce safety risk and improve appearance; applicant agreed.
The commission approved the special-use permit unanimously; the project will proceed to City Council on September 17 for final legislative action.
