The Library has officially announced their decision to close and “mothball” the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building. No images? Click here It is with a heavy heart that we share the outcome of Tuesday night’s joint meeting between City Council and the Cleveland Heights - University Heights Library. The Library has officially announced their decision to close and “mothball” the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building. While Cleveland Heights City Council members and a representative from University Heights approached the meeting with open minds, ready to invest both time and money into a solution that could benefit all parties involved, the Library remained firmly unmoved. Their unwillingness to compromise was a stark contrast to the collaborative spirit shown by the cities' leaders. We are deeply grateful for the leadership of both cities, who demonstrated their commitment to the community and worked hard to find a way forward. We’ll share more information soon, but in the meantime, we encourage everyone to watch the meeting here: https://youtu.be/aR6vOH-YOBE?si=Q-N3EML1Ik1VVE9T. Despite our tireless efforts to work toward a joint solution that would allow the tenants to remain in the building, the Library made it clear that such a discussion was a non-starter, not even allowing us a seat at the table. The night before, at their own Committee meeting, the Library said they would walk out of the meeting if Council President Cuda allowed us to be part of the discussion. The Library shared many thoughts regarding the P.E.A.C.E. Building, from not wanting to be landlords or use more taxpayer money, to simultaneously stating their intent to keep the building—absorbing ongoing maintenance and upkeep costs without any rental income to offset their financial losses—while they determine its future. They have also approved, yet another, taxpayer-funded facility study, costing over $15,000. The Library also dismissed what exists within our walls, stating it is not a “hub,” and certainly not an “arts hub.” They criticized the building’s current usage, claiming it doesn’t meet their standards for a public facility because tenants don’t keep it open to the public for set hours every day. Yet, they control the building, keeping it locked and secured 24 hours a day. When Council pressed the Library on the tenants making the building more accessible to the public and in line with what the Library outlined, the Library showed no interest in being receptive to the idea. There are many examples of the Library shifting the “goal posts,” before ultimately stating their intention to clear the building of the current tenants and leave it empty for an undefined period. While they stopped short of announcing plans for demolition, after right now’s meeting this outcome seems to be even more likely. But don’t worry – the Library's Director has offered to help City Council with planning for a new arts center elsewhere and has already outlined her ideas of how it should be operated and where it should be located. Thank goodness she’s got a plan for the City, but unfortunate, that after 8 years, she claims the Library does not have a plan for the P.E.A.C.E. Building. As you can tell, after months of being the “bigger person,” our frustration and disappointment is boiling to the surface, so we will end it here. We will provide more information in the coming days, but right now we are just taking a moment to catch our breath and “feel all the feels.” The P.E.A.C.E. building has been such a beautiful gift – bringing people together who may have otherwise not crossed each other’s paths. Let us hold dear to the idea that P.E.A.C.E. is not only about our “place” but about a place in our hearts, and that is something this unelected board of public representatives cannot “mothball.” We have much to discuss and work through, but this is not the end. Tomorrow, we continue forward, and we hope you all will continue to be at our side during this journey. For something more cheerful - watch this video from some of our previous P.E.A.C.E. Pops events.And mark your calendars for our next one on October 25th! NOW ON TO SOMETHING MORE FUN…MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!With the fate of our building now decided, and the future of events like our quarterly P.E.A.C.E. Pops in peril, we want to make the last one of 2024 our best one yet! SO PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND JOIN US FOR OUR LAST TWO EVENTS OF 2024!! See below for more info and to RSVP. Halloween P.E.A.C.E. PopsFriday, October 25th |