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.
The Plan
In late 2022, President Biden and the United States Congress authorized $4 million of community project funding for the redevelopment of St. Anthony's - thanks to the strong and steadfast leadership of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur! With this funding in hand, the Land Bank has begun work with community partners to redevelop the facility for a sustainable use that benefits the residents of the Junction neighborhood.
We're excited about the possibilities, and there's lots more to come!
