Perrysburg Heights hosts 'family reunion' for residents
Oct. 17—In response to a plan they fear could turn their idyllic neighborhood into another Levis Commons, residents of Perrysburg Heights hosted a "family reunion" on Sunday for everyone who has ever called the Heights home.
The event featured a potluck-style buffet, posters detailing local family trees, and activities for children and families.
"We have such a unique community," Leanna Butler, a Heights resident who grew up in the neighborhood, said. "It's literally generations of friendships....It's not even community, it's family."
The Heights is a 90-acre Perrysburg Township community south of I-475 and bounded by State Rt. 25 and Roachton Road to the west and the south, respectively.
Earlier this year, a draft of Perrysburg city's land use plan, dubbed Perrysburg Tomorrow, was released.
It included several possible changes to the Heights that many of its residents oppose, such as enhancing walkability, establishing mixed-use zoning for commercial and residential development, and adding centrally-located green space to an area where residential homes currently sit.
During a Perrysburg City Council Planning and Zoning Committee meeting in September, many Heights residents expressed concerns over annexation. They said they weren't consulted throughout the planning process, and fear they will someday be pushed out of their own community.
At Sunday's event, many residents spoke about the importance of standing together.
"There's power in numbers," Ms. Butler said. "My hope is that humanity will shock me and show up and stand for what's right."
Anita Sanchez-Serda, a third-generation Heights resident, said Sunday's event also aimed to make former Heights residents aware of what's happening. She and others encouraged people to attend a city council committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 to show support for the community.
"We're proud of the property and the homes we have," she said.
Leah Delao, another longtime Heights resident, said the Perrysburg Heights Community Association is an organization dedicated to providing education, recreation, and support services for local families.
In addition to getting help from that group, residents hope to put together a committee to represent them.
The Perrysburg Heights neighborhood was settled approximately a century ago and has since been home to a diverse, lower-income community that has built itself into a lively urban district with a community center, social and educational programs, and an outdoor park.
Ms. Delao said it "takes a tribe to raise a family."
"It takes a tribe to make a statement," she said.
First Published October 17, 2021, 4:53pm
