'State-of-the-art' community youth center one step closer to reality in Allentown
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The keys to Allentown's historic Cleveland Elementary School have officially changed hands — going from the Allentown School District, to Community Action Lehigh Valley.
It will soon see a new life as a community youth center, which Community Action officials said will provide opportunities for growth, learning, and enrichment. The historic school building is located at 424 N. Ninth St., Allentown.
The youth center is expected to cost $20 million, and feature "state-of-the-art" amenities, according to CALV.
Executive Director Dawn Godshall said the center will include sports fields, classrooms, theater space, studio space and more. It is expected to be completed in 2027.
"The transformation of the Cleveland School site into a youth center will enable us to better serve our community's youth, providing them with a safe, nurturing, and empowering space to grow and thrive," Godshall said.
It will be a safe place for school-aged kids to hang out after school, and have fun in an educational yet accessible way, Godshall said.
The transfer of the building from the Allentown School District was two years in the making. The final closing price on the building was $320,000.
Smith said he's happy the historic building is going to have a meaningful second-life.
"What the transfer means to the Allentown School District and the community as a whole is that this property will continue to serve the community. Cleveland Elementary serve that community for over 140 years," Smith said. "So that tradition will continue, and we're absolutely thrilled."
'I could just do a happy dance right now'
On Friday, Godshall met with Thomas C. Smith, executive director of facilities services for the Allentown School District, at the office of real estate law firm Plunkett & Graver on Waterfront Drive in Allentown. Paperwork complete, the keys to the old school officially changed hands.
"This has been such a long time coming, and we are so grateful to all the people that supported it. We still have a long way to go as we start a capital campaign for it. So we look forward to all of the people who want to see there be a place, a safe place for kids to be, to contribute to our capital campaign as we move forward — so this is extremely exciting."
Dawn Godshall, executive director of Community Action Lehigh Valley
"I could just do a happy dance right now," Godshall said with a bright smile, holding the keys tight in her palm.
Fundraising
With the sale of the building complete, the next phase of fundraising for the design and actualization of the future center are set to begin, Godshall said.
Community Action aims to raise about $20 million to actually make the youth center a reality, with support from other organizations and members of the community.
Godshall said the purchase took two years start-to-finish.
"This has been such a long time coming, and we are so grateful to all the people that supported it. We still have a long way to go as we start a capital campaign for it. So we look forward to all of the people who want to see there be a place, a safe place for kids to be, to contribute to our capital campaign as we move forward — so this is extremely exciting."
A staunch advocate for the project, Godshall previously told LehighValleyNews.com that she credits a youth center as being important in her own upbringing and education.
“It was a place where I knew I was safe, where I knew I could do productive things,” Godshall said.
According to a media release from CALV, the ultimate vision for the future center will be "a hub for academic support, mentorship, arts and culture, sports, leadership development and some vocational training that will hopefully lead to future career opportunities."