Friday, November 27, 2009
The group wants a ‘place for kids to keep them out of mischief.’
YOUNGSTOWN — A community organization is seeking $1.5 million to $2 million to transfer a former school on the city’s East Side into a community facility for kids and senior citizens.
Bondage Busters, a nonprofit anti-violence group, has owned the former Madison School at 84 McGuffey Road, near Wick Avenue, for more than 10 years. Madison closed as a school in 1996.
When it purchased the former school, the organization provided athletic activities to children such as basketball, volleyball, football, weightlifting and fishing as well as programs to mentor and tutor children, general equivalency diploma preparation and life skills development activities.
But not much has been going on at the 17,106-square-foot, 77-year-old building, in recent years.
Bondage Busters officials want to renovate the former school, which needs major interior improvements, and turn it in to a multiuse facility, said the Rev. Lee Whitfield, the organization’s vice president and co-owner.
“The structure is really solid,” he said. “The interior has been vandalized. Also, we need to replace the windows and doors and to have the roof repaired.”
The organization wants the building to have a bowling alley and provide activity space for children and senior citizens in the area, Whitfield said.
“We want to stop gang violence and provide a place for kids to keep them out of mischief,” he said. “We also want to be a place where seniors can come and keep them active.”
The group had wanted to demolish the former school and build a new structure, Whitfield said.
But that is cost-prohibitive and because the building has historic value, the group wants to renovate the structure, he said. That will cost about $1.5 million to $2 million, he said.
The organization plans to seek government assistance for its plans as well as ask for local donations, Whitfield said.
Once the money is raised, the improvement project should take about 14 months to complete, he said.
Those wanting to contribute money and/or materials can do so by contact Bondage Busters officials at (330) 518-9687 or (330) 423-3668.
skolnick@vindy.com