Canton eyeing new housing for former school property site

CANTON – Washington Elementary School once stood on a 1.7-acre lot in the middle of a residential neighborhood on the city’s northeast side.

City officials are eyeing the former school site at 1220 Ninth Street NE for a future housing development.

The city posted a request for proposals from experienced residential developers in September, seeking to build affordable or market-rate housing at the former school site. Proposals were also requested for the same site earlier this summer but no bids were awarded.

The 1.7 acres of vacant lot adjacent to Rowland Avenue NE is zoned as residential use. Utilities are already running to the property, according to Public Service Director John Highman, who said the site is well positioned for development.

The property would be offered to a selected developer for $1, with other incentives including the city’s 15-year property tax abatement program. Priorities for the project include “permanent affordability, sustainable building practices and innovative housing models,” according to the city’s request for proposals.

The city got the former Washington Elementary property in a 2024 land swap with Canton City Schools. The school was demolished in 2014.

A 2024 countywide study revealed there are not enough housing units in Stark County, and low-income residents are being priced out of the market. Due to the regional shortage, Canton William V. Sherer II has said the city is making a major push for housing, aiming to close that gap.

City sees potential in former school sites

In a 2024 land swap, Canton received 15 properties from the Canton City School District and five additional properties in a 2026 agreement. The properties are a mix of vacant lots, like the Washington site, and existing buildings.

Sherer believes the school properties are opportunities for economic development, community resources and land for new housing.

“We definitely don’t want a vacant school bringing down the neighborhood, sitting there for years,” Sherer said, pointing to the former Lehman school as an example.

The former Lehman school sat vacant for 15 years before being transformed into senior housing. But during the vacancy period, the building deteriorated, impacting the surrounding neighborhood, Sherer said.

“I would rather see us control our own destiny,” he said. “If we can’t find someone to repurpose the building or it can’t be used for economic development, we are going to tear it down and we’re going to build housing.”

In addition to the Washington school site, residential development options are also being explored for the former Edgefield School site, annexed from Plain Township. Habitat for Humanity is working on building 16-single family homes at the former Baxter Elementary site.

“We’re trying to make the biggest push for housing the city has seen in 50 years,” Sherer said. “I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

Contact Abreanna Blose by email at ablose@usatodayco.com or by phone at 330-580-8513.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton eyeing new housing for former school property site

Reporting by Abreanna Blose, Canton Repository / The Repository

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published October 20, 2026 at 5:55 AM.