The former Epworth Methodist Church has seen better days.
The historic relic has been empty and in disrepair for more than a decade. The Lucas County Land Bank and the Old West End Association want to breathe new life into the stately structure.
“Let’s not kid ourselves,” David Mann, president and CEO of the Lucas County Land Bank, said at a news conference Friday in front of the building. “This is a complicated endeavor to try and repurpose this building. But with the kind of outreach we are doing, we believe it’s possible.”
He was joined by Laure Hammond, president of the Old West End Association, and Matt Wiederhold, executive director of Heritage Ohio, which helps communities revitalize and preserve historic commercial districts.
They spoke about the need for a redevelopment partner to transform the building into a mix of residential and commercial uses, an idea proposed in a feasibility study.
The building, located in the Old West End of Toledo at the corner of Parkwood and West Delaware avenues, was built in 1908. It was sold to the former Mary Manse College following a fire in 1958. The college used the 34,000 square feet of space for a library.
When the college eventually closed, the building was sold to a small Church of God congregation. The state of Ohio now owns the property, Mr. Mann said.
The property is considered forfeited land. It went through a tax foreclosure, with $160,000 owed in back taxes.
“Nobody purchased it at a sheriff’s sale,” Mr. Mann said. “By default, the state of Ohio owns it. By law, the land bank has the unique power, even though we’re not the owner, to let people inspect the property.”
The land bank and Old West End Association are not in a position to take ownership of the property, he explained.
“But if we can attract a developer using the power we do have, we may ultimately be in a position for the land bank to take ownership, sell it to someone who will fix it up and turn it into something,” Mr. Mann said.
To bring it to the attention of developers, neighborhood volunteers generated the feasibility study to determine the potential reuse of the structure, Ms. Hammond said.
“The major mission of the Old West End Association is to preserve the structures of our community that contribute so much to Toledo’s history,” Ms. Hammond said. “To tell our story, it is important to be proactive to save these incredible homes and buildings that make our neighborhoods a special place to be.”
The Old West End Association approached the land bank to help attract a developer to the building, she said.
“Creating a unique partnership, we believe this is the first of such an endeavor to be undertaken,” she said.
“Nobody is coming to rescue us unless we do it together,” Mr. Mann said.
The land bank wants to make sure the property is not sold to speculators who might possibly leave it in its present condition, Mr. Mann said.
“We’ve cleared the title, which is a huge step. When a developer shows up and is interested in exploring this, they do not have to sort through back taxes that have gone unpaid, or other liens or issues on the property that would complicate their efforts and maybe dissuade them from ever doing anything in the first place,” Mr. Mann said.
Mr. Wiederhold said such buildings may be old, “but they’re still standing.”
“With the rise in construction costs, and concerns with sustainability, a building that is already standing is ripe for redevelopment,” he said. Heritage Ohio “will help in any way we can.”
Chuck Madrigal, who has been working with the land bank for the last six months as president of the Old West End’s preservation committee, said it will take a lot of money and a developer who has experience with historic buildings to accomplish their goals.
Tearing down the building and constructing something new is out of the question, Mr. Madrigal said.
“Buildings are very important. When you lose them, they’re irreplaceable. Why tear down something so beautiful? The workmanship on just the exterior of the building is just amazing,” he said.
First Published March 21, 2025, 9:21 p.m.
