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Posted: 12:00 a.m.
Monday, Jan. 26, 2015
Church’s plans for school seen as positive
By http://www.journal-news.com/staff/rick-mccrabb/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN —
While Middletown
school board members wished the vacant school and property sold for more at
auction, they believe plans for the former Verity
Middle School are positive for the Middletown community.
Last month, Berachah Church
was the highest bidder at a live auction for the former Verity Middle School
property, 1900 Johns Road, and the nearly 60 acres that surround the building.
Berachah bid $293,000 for all three parcels, $3,000 more than the Performing Arts Academy,
said George Long, district business manager. The property was appraised at
$740,000, he said.
By selling the property, Long said the
district it will save $330,000 — the cost of demolition — and that money can be
spent renovating Middletown
High School and building
a middle school. He said if the school was demolished, the 60 acres would be
appraised at $250,000.
School board members are expected to vote
tonight, Jan. 26,on whether to sell the property to Berachah or keep it and
possibly have it demolished.
“We don’t need it right now,” said Marcia
Andrew, board president. The church’s plans would serve a lot of students,
which could be beneficial for the entire community, she said.
Lamar Ferrell, Berachah pastor, said he has
heard nothing but positive comments from the community since it was announced
that the church plans to purchase the property.
“This is of monumental importance to help
this city,” Ferrell said. “This is a win for the community. We want to be a
blessing.”
Ferrell said restoration of the former Verity School,
which closed in 2012 as a way to reduce $5 million from the district’s budget,
is estimated at $1.6 million, meaning the total investment will be about $1.9
million. Berachah has secured a feasibility study and master site plan from the
McKnight Group, a Grove City-based company, and the church is ready to move
ahead with construction, he said.
Berachah has been approved for financing
through American Saving Bank and the church, which worships in Middletown High School, is debt free, he stressed.
He said the capital campaign is called Overflow and the first offering is set
for April 12. The goal is to raise $700,000 over the next three years, he said.
The plans call for a 1,000-seat sanctuary
to be built on the front of the building that faces Breiel Boulevard. Ferrell said the
property would be used to serve the community in numerous ways, including
seasonal outreach at Freedom Court,
a summer lunch program, Vacation Bible School,
a community health clinic, Red Cross classes, children’s summer theatre,
after-school mentoring, community rooms, Upward Sports, practice fields and
Elley’s Hope Playground, designated for children with disabilities, at nearby Lefferson Park.
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