http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/cleveland_heights_orthodox_jew.htmlThey're now trying to find legit excuses to seem as if they're not. Like all goyim. SMHCLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- More than 200 politely angry Orthodox Jews overwhelmed the Cleveland Heights City Council meeting Tuesday night to ask why the school board is not allowing them to buy the Severance-Millikin School, which has been vacant since 2006.
A similar-size group attended the Cleveland Heights-University Heights school board meeting earlier in the night. They were not permitted to address the board.
The group of residents, who live near the school, has submitted a bid on the building, which is behind Severance Town Center shopping center.
Tensions are high among Orthodox Jews because the school board is reluctant to sell them the school despite the bid, Steve Rokowsky told the council.
"This is frustrating to the Orthodox community," said Rokowsky, who lives near the school. "We're a tightly knit, financially stable community and we want to know: what did we do wrong?"
Rokowsky said his group needs Severance-Millikin School and its 11 acres because the Mosdos Ohr Hatorah school for boys on Warrensville Center Road is no longer big enough for its number of students.
In a written statement, Cleveland Heights-University Heights Superintendent Douglas Heuer said four bids were received in 2006 for the school, which was appraised at $2.4 million. The highest bid was $500,000. All were rejected.
The school board attempted to lease the building in 2009 and again last year, but there were no offers. The board has again considered leasing, and Mosdos Ohr Hatorah recently made an unsolicited bid of $550,000.
Heuer also said the board is encouraged by its success at leasing the former Coventry Elementary School and hopes something similar could happen with Severance-Millikin.
But Rabbi Shraga Weimer said leasing Severance-Millikin to a business in an area zoned residential will change the complexion of the neighborhood.
City Council was sympathetic to the residents' plight. Vice Mayor Dennis Wilcox and Councilwoman Bonita Caplan said they would urge the school board to listen and carefully consider Mosdos Ohr Hatorah's offer.
Cleveland Heights Mayor Edward Kelley said council members must take a neutral position.
"What happens to Severance-Millikin School is really in the hands of the school board," Kelley said. "All I can say -- despite the fact I'm not a real estate expert -- is the assessment of $2.4 million on the property back in 2006 is not accurate today. Real estate prices have dropped all over the country."
Rokowsky said if it acquires the school, the Orthodox Jewish community intends to spend $1.5 million to $2 million on renovations.
Severance-Millikin could be leased, used by the board if schools need to be consolidated or be sold for a reasonable price, said schools spokeswoman Angee Shaker in a phone interview.
"Our board is open to fair offers," she said, "but we're not willing to give it away."
