An Asset for the Junction Neighborhood
Honoring the Past, Building the Future
The History
In 2018, the Diocese of Toledo donated the former St. Anthony’s church building to the Lucas County Land Bank after an outcry from community leaders and neighborhood residents to stop it from being demolished.
After taking ownership, the Land Bank first listened to the residents and stakeholders in the neighborhood about what they hoped to see happen. Through these focus groups, four overarching themes were heard about the reuse of this building:
1. Safety
2. Sustainability
3. Ownership
4. Leadership
With those themes in hand, the Land Bank asked The Toledo Design Collective and Rudolph-Libbe to complete a feasibility study that assessed potential redevelopment options and the costs associated with them. You can read the complete Feasibility Study below.
Redeveloping the Building
Starting in October 2020, the Land Bank began marketing St. Anthony's for sale in order to attract a developer/operator that would use the building in a way that benefits the Junction neighborhood.
In early February 2023, that marketing attracted a Letter of Intent from Adventus Climbing, a local recreational climbing gym operation, regarding the redevelopment of St. Anthony's as a climbing gym. At the same time, the Land Bank received a $4 million Community Project Funding appropriation from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in order to make critical investments in the building and adjacent land.
In light of these developments, the Land Bank has paused its active marketing of the building while we work in good faith to consider the feasibility of a climbing gym, engage with residents and stakeholders on the concept, and negotiate a final agreement with Adventus Climbing.
If we are unable to reach a productive agreement with Adventus Climbing regarding this proposed use, the Land Bank will begin considering again other developer/operator proposals. Please stay posted on this page for additional updates and developments about this important project!
