All money finally secured for old Saint Anthony church renovations

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – It’s official, the final money has been approved to make renovations to the old Saint Anthony Church in Toledo’s Junction neighborhood

It’s a project nearly a decade in the works and it looks like now the work is on track to start.

Lucas County delivered the final piece of the puzzle. It’s not ARPA dollars as first thought but they are dollars nonetheless and it now starts the clock toward construction.

One of the biggest impediments to renovating the old church on Nebraska Avenue near Junction has been the money. Lucas County’s Land Bank owns it and estimated repairs would cost $6 million. The plan is to create a recreation center.

“It’s really been a long path. It really has been a long path but things that are worth doing sometimes take a while,” said Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken.

Commissioner Gerken was there when the Land Bank took possession from the Catholic Diocese of Toledo in 2018 which was ready to demolish the building that’s stood for over 130 years. Lucas County, Tuesday, allocated just over $900,000 from the general fund as an economic development grant agreement.

“We all reap the benefits of stronger neighborhoods. We all do better when we take federal money and spend it here,” said Gerken.

$4 million in federal money was promised for renovations. With the $900,000 from the county and $900,000 already promised by the city of Toledo, it seems like finally this project may happen. This all meaning construction could begin soon.

When all work is done the city of Toledo will be managing the facility and overseeing upkeep and utilities.

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