(This story has been updated to fix an inaccuracy. See correction below. 6:15 p.m. July 7.)
CANTON – The Canton City School District and the city have reached a tentative land swap agreement.
The deal gives five school properties to Canton in exchange for a stretch of 17th Street NW.
Negotiations came amid the school district’s ongoing financial challenges and budget shortfalls. The swap would allow the district to unload some of its unused properties, which, Superintendent Jeffery Talbert said, came with costly maintenance.
The city, on the other hand, plans to use those sites to develop housing.
Both Canton City Council and the school will have to vote on the agreement before moving forward.
The tentative deal includes the following school properties:
In exchange for one field and four schools, the district would receive 17th Street NW between Clarendon Avenue NW and Harrison Avenue NW via the vacation process.
Superintendent says the deal is mutually beneficial
Talbert said — although the two groups are early in the land swap process — they have identified the plan as mutually beneficial.
“I think we’re in a place where we will be able to get out of some buildings and those buildings and those properties will be able to reach the city’s goal of increasing housing stock and improving the neighborhood,” Talbert said.
Because the targeted section of 17th Street is sandwiched between two existing school properties near McKinley High School, owning the street would create more flexibility with transportation and parent traffic, increasing school safety.
Canton school leaders evaluated real property as part of the district’s strategic facilities plan, determining that disposing of buildings could cut costs.
To dispose of real property, Talbert said, all of the schools had to first be offered to charter schools per Ohio law. Strong interest was shown in Belle Stone Elementary, which is set to be auctioned to charter schools.
If there’s no charter school interest, districts may then dispose of properties through agreements with other governmental bodies or political subdivisions if mutually beneficial — in this case, the city of Canton.
City officials hope to build housing, improve neighborhoods
For city officials, the agreement is a positive move for Canton neighborhoods.
Public Service Director John Highman said the city doesn’t want large vacant schools to negatively impact residents.
Instead, the goal is to acquire the vacant buildings and determine their viability. If the structures cannot be saved, the city will pursue new housing developments on the sites.
“We are looking to make a huge push on these sites to put housing in the city,” Mayor William V. Sherer II said, aiming to collaborate with community partners on projects.
A similar plan is unfolding now, as the city and Habitat for Humanity of East Central Ohio partnered with plans for a 16-house development at the former site of Baxter Elementary.
In 2024, Canton City Council agreed to a land swap with the school district. The city got 15 vacant properties, including the Baxter lot, in exchange for two parcels that make up Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium.
“We want to be in control of our own destiny and make sure we are in a position to protect the neighborhoods,” Highman said. “And not just protect the neighborhoods but continue to develop them.”
Contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@usatodayco.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.
CORRECTION: Risaliti Field is at 301 Third Street SW in Canton. The field name was misspelled when this story first published.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton schools and city plan land swap deal
Reporting by Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository | USA TODAY Network
