Demolition underway at Weaver School in Tallmadge as Summit DD site ends five-decade run

Demolition of Weaver School in Tallmadge, a fixture of the community for half a century, began Monday.

By late morning, the facade of one wing had been torn away, exposing rooms where thousands of individuals with developmental disabilities had been served since the 1970s. The Weaver School and Workshop was dedicated on Sept. 12, 1971.

Tallmadge Mayor David Kline, who was at the site Monday to talk about the demolition, said he lived near the school as a youth.

"I grew up just down the road," he said.

Memories of Weaver School in Tallmadge

The school was a state-of-the-art, $3.3 million facility when it opened, but the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board's operations evolved over the years. Still, the school was a vital center during its days of operation.

“It really served its purpose,” Kline said.

The 120,000-square-foot school eventually became too much for the agency to maintain and operate.

Billie David, director of communications for Summit DD, said the demolition was a bittersweet development. She remembers Special Olympics events that took place at the school's baseball field and said she's happy that it's likely to remain in some form in future plans.

"It was built (with the help) of parent advocates that didn't have other options (at the time)," David said. "It has such a rich history for us."

'Coming up with a game plan'

Last year, Tallmadge gained ownership of the school and much of the surrounding 29 acres.

Smaller buildings to the east and west of the school were purchased by the county, including the former workshop, where the county's Summit Emergency Communications Center opens next month.

Kline, who decided earlier this year not to run for re-election, said he envisions the site as part of a sports complex, with a field house complementing ball fields adjacent to the site. But those plans are still being worked out.

“The next administration, they’ll be tasked with coming up with a game plan,” he said.

Demolition to be completed by late November

Summit DD moved to its Cuyahoga Falls administrative building in May, with operations split between Cuyahoga Falls and its Barberton location. It supports more than 5,000 individuals with developmental disabilities.

Chris Grant, supervisor with Pro Quality Demolition, said Monday his crew is taking down the wings of the larger structure first.

“By Thanksgiving, it should (all) be down,” he said.

Grant said Youngstown-based Pro Quality specializes in demolition of large, often multi-story structures.

“I like this when they’re one, two stories,” he said.

'Green space for a while'

Council agreed to purchase the building for $2 from the county in December 2020.

At the time, demolition costs were estimated at about $1 million. The city received a state grant to fund much of the work, with the city’s match at 25%, Kline said.

Kline said the site is best suited for public use — such as a sports complex with a field house —rather than commercial or residential development.

“I do not think you’ll see a housing development here,” he said. “(It’s) located next to the dispatch center (and) flanked on both sides by public buildings.”

Until plans are hammered down, the site will remain empty.

“We’re going to open it up and make it green space for a while,” Kline said.

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Demolition begins at Summit DD's former Weaver School in Tallmadge