Holy Toledo!

November 4, 2024 Announcements

What happens when the faithful move on, but a majestic old church sticks around?

All over the country, this challenge is growing as church attendance dwindles. Because every church and every neighborhood is different, there are no obvious or easy answers. In Toledo - a place so known for its churches that the phrase "Holy Toledo!" is a worldwide phenomenon - the problem stands out.

One of the ways that the Land Bank provides value to the community is through information gathering and careful assessment. Our Toledo Survey is a best-in-class inventory of every neighborhood, helping neighbors, community development organizations, public partners, and the private sector decide how to invest in the built environment.

In that spirit, we are pleased to release a report on religious buildings at risk in Toledo, Ohio - our first Holy Toledo! Inventory.

Based on careful assessments by our team, the report identifies 24 properties across Toledo at risk, with 8 properties categorized as being at "immediate risk" due to issues like roof damage or partial collapse.

Some of our key findings include:

• 24 church buildings were identified as being at risk, with 8 categorized as "immediate risk"
• Immediate risk churches range from 3,880 to 58,472 square feet, with many facing issues like vacancy, tax delinquency, and roof damage
• The churches were built between 1870 and 1936, spanning many neighborhoods across Toledo

The report results from the hard-working and thoughtful efforts of our Preservation Manager, Jim Roseland, and Director of Construction, Ryan Rathburn, with input from our whole team.

Like other abandoned properties, vacant and neglected churches can pose significant risks to surrounding neighborhoods. These large, aging buildings often fall into disrepair, becoming magnets for criminal activity and safety hazards. Deteriorating roofs, structural issues, and accumulated debris can make the properties fire and collapse risks. Additionally, the lack of maintenance and security can attract squatters, vandals, and illegal dumping, contributing to neighborhood distress and decreased property values.

However, these religious buildings also represent opportunities for revitalization. With thoughtful redevelopment, many may be converted into community centers, recreation, entertainment, affordable housing, or other beneficial uses that preserve their architectural and cultural significance.

The report highlights that several properties, like the Land Bank's own St. Anthony's Church, are already moving towards redevelopment through collaboration between the public sector and the community. This suggests there is hope to responsibly repurpose more of Toledo's at-risk religious buildings and mitigate the neighborhood-level challenges they can pose when left vacant.

Releasing this report does not mean the Land Bank has every answer. Sadly, some of these buildings may be lost.

Yet, we know that knowledge is power. Working together, we believe our community can create opportunities in these historic, beautiful, sound, and glorious buildings that meet the needs of today's residents and all those to come.