Messiah Lutheran students begin
using new building this week
By Kevin Kelley
Fairview Park
Published Jan. 30, 2008

Students at Messiah Lutheran School are scheduled to begin using a renovated building for art classes tomorrow.

How to get the students safely across West 215th Street to the recently purchased building has become a controversial issue in the city in recent months.

City Council passed an ordinance Jan. 21 that allows a portion of the street between Messiah Lutheran’s main school building and the renovated building to be closed during school hours.

Barricades were scheduled to be put in place during school hours today.

Jim Kennedy, the city’s director of public service and development, described details of the temporary plan in a Jan. 25 letter to area residents.

The roadway will be closed to traffic on the north and south ends of Messiah Lutheran’s property from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, Kennedy’s letter stated. Street signs alerting motorists of the closure have been erected at the intersections of Hilliard and West 215th Street, and at Lorain and West 215th Street, Kennedy said.

“Local residents and others will continue to maintain full access to the residences on West 215th Street and the businesses on Lorain Road adjacent to West 215th Street on a regular basis,” Kennedy wrote. “Complete use of West 215th Street will also remain available to motorists in the evenings, on weekends, and during school vacation periods (summer, Christmas, Easter, etc.).

“The implementation of these changes to West 215 traffic patterns is the result of all interested parties coming together and arriving at a workable solution in the interest of compromise.”

Nathan Hessler, co-chairman of Messiah Lutheran’s building committee, said buses dropping off and picking up students will travel north on West 215th Street, through the school’s south lot and exit onto Lorain Road. Parents dropping off and picking up students have been instructed to drive north on West 215th Street to the south lot and exit southbound on West 215th Street.

During an interview with West Life Saturday, Hessler and Bob Kreps, the other building committee co-chair, said Messiah Lutheran leaders and area neighbors reached a general understanding on several points that would comprise a permanent solution on how students can safely walk between buildings.

“There is a consensus of a direction to move forward on,” Hessler said.

Those points agreed upon include the following, Hessler said:

• West 215th Street would be closed to auto traffic during school hours.

• Barricades or gates will block the street to auto traffic during school hours.

• The street would be open to auto traffic outside of school hours.

• West 215th Street would become a single northbound lane in the area between the Messiah Lutheran school buildings.

Messiah Lutheran had originally asked the city to vacate a portion of West 215th Street so the school could build a small park-like campus between the buildings.

However, area residents objected, saying traffic would increase on adjacent roads.

In December, council voted 3 to 2 for the plan to vacate West 215th Street. But Law Director Sara Fagnilli gave an opinion that, under the City Charter, four affirmative votes were needed to pass.

Hessler and Kreps, both attorneys, have said they disagree with Fagnilli’s interpretation. They say that because Ward 2 Councilman Bill Minek, a Messiah Lutheran member, abstained from the vote, three affirmative votes constituted a majority.

And both Hessler and Kreps say that the week before the Dec. 17 vote, Fagnilli had told them that a 3 – 2 vote would pass.

Fagnilli, Mayor Eileen Patton and Council President Jamie Robatin all told West Life they dispute the suggestion that Fagnilli changed her position.

But the two Messiah Lutheran leaders say they are not interested in pursuing those issues and would rather work in a collaborative manner with the city and the church’s neighbors.

“In my mind, that’s yesterday’s news,” Hessler said of council’s 3-2 vote. Kreps added that the church never intended to act unilaterally.

The church has authorized the hiring of an architect for additional study on a permanent solution, Hessler said.

Hessler cautioned that many details still need to be worked out in order to finalize a permanent solution.

“We want to be sure there are no legal or practical barriers,” Hessler said regarding the effort to achieve a permanent solution.

Kreps said the church has asked the city’s law department to study whether aspects of the consensus toward a permanent plan, such as making a portion of West 215th Street one way, are permissible under state traffic laws.

But Hessler said he is confident that the main points agreed to at a Jan. 9 City Hall meeting can be implemented and a permanent solution reached.

Hessler and Kreps said there is no timetable for drafting a permanent plan for the street. The church will have to submit a written plan to the city in order to implement a permanent plan.

Robatin also said he is optimistic the consensus can meet the concerns of both groups.

“The residents now feel that they’re part of the process — that they’re being listened to and they have a stake in it.” the council president said.

Hessler said the renovated building will free up space in the church’s existing buildings for church programs such as Bible study and small group meetings that are considered vital to the church’s ministry.

A dedication ceremony for the renovated building will be held Feb. 10.