On Wednesday evening, the Cleveland Heights - University Heights Library hosted a public meeting to discuss the future of the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building. Billed as a "listening session," it drew residents, business owners, and educators from across Cleveland Heights, University Heights, and South Euclid. The session revealed overwhelming community support for preserving our Arts, Culture, and Education Center. While not everyone had the chance to speak due to time constraints, all attendees were encouraged to share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas by submitting comment cards at the end of the meeting.

It was evident that our community holds our Library system in high regard. Many attendees, including those who have lived in other parts of the United States, praised our system as one of the best they’ve encountered. However, there was a clear consensus that supporting the nonprofit center in the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building aligns with the Library's mission. This center does not detract from the Library or the community but rather enhances it. We were deeply moved by the outpouring of support from so many community members who are not directly affiliated with our nonprofits but who value strong community resources. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to advocate for finding a solution that preserves the P.E.A.C.E. Building and keeps our nonprofit collaborative intact.

Now, we await to see if the voices heard during the "Listening Session" were received with open minds and hearts. We are eager to engage in good-faith dialogue with the Library's leadership and our City leaders, aiming for a united effort to make this project successful. We seek to work alongside leaders committed to finding innovative solutions and opening up new opportunities for progress. We are fortunate to have visionary community leaders, and we hope they will demonstrate their support for this project by joining us in this endeavor. We can create something exceptional in Cleveland Heights that will benefit our community for generations to come.

It is crucial for the Library to involve the City in this process, along with the Coventry Special Improvement District, Coventry P.E.A.C.E., and the residents of Cleveland Heights and University Heights. A collaborative solution must be negotiated to ensure a win-win outcome for all involved. Together, we can Keep The P.E.A.C.E.!

We continue to maintain support for all community-serving organizations. While we feel that the public narrative has been incomplete and potentially misleading, we have chosen not to engage in a public dispute out of respect for all community-serving organizations, including the Libraries. Our priority remains fostering support for these vital community resources.

We will work towards a reasonable outcome that benefits all involved. We remain committed to our vision and the project that the community has supported for seven years—an arts and education hub in the heart of the Heights. We also remain focused on our individual missions and continue to build upon each of our thriving organizations. Our goal is to continue to carry out those missions at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building. We are solution-focused, and we hope to work with anyone who shares that vision and will collaborate with us in a spirit of cooperation and transparency to find solutions and options with a mindset toward problem-solving.

We aim to support the Library while preserving the Coventry P.E.A.C.E Building. We value the Library's significant contributions to our community, including the renovation and expansion of the Noble Branch Library, as well as the park and playground at Coventry. We also champion the transformative impact of our arts, culture, and education center, currently home to a dozen local and regional nonprofits. Recognizing the Library's shift away from landlord responsibilities, Coventry P.E.A.C.E. seeks collaborative solutions with stakeholders to secure the building's future as a vital part of the Coventry Village neighborhood. We believe maintaining this property aligns with community desires, as evidenced by past studies and environmental sustainability principles embraced by many in our community. For those of us who live here, work here, or visit here, we are fortunate that Cleveland Heights embraces such rich cultural and educational resources.

Time is pressing. Despite our preference for 18-month extensions with a 12% rent increase, we were only offered six-month leases, leaving us with no choice but to sign these short-term agreements or face vacating the building by the end of last month. There could be a month-to-month option after these short leases expire. However, the Library has indicated they could give us 60 days’ notice as early as November, making December 31^st potentially our last day in the building.

The looming closure and/or demolition of the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building would be devastating for our community. The resulting disbursement of our co-located nonprofits would be an enormous loss of and a burden on community resources. All of the benefits that come with being co-located would vanish—like the ways in which we are better able to cross-promote and partner on the 40+ free programs our organizations host (or participate in), both individually and as a group. We urgently need to collaborate to find a viable path forward that maintains stability for our organizations, preserves our co-location benefits, and continues our impactful community programs.

[If anyone is interested in reading more about the benefits of nonprofit co-location and social purpose real estate, you can read more about this on our website.]

Contrary to the Library’s claims, the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Project has consistently demonstrated financial sustainability and we have a proven track record of creating and maintaining affordable, accessible spaces. Coventry P.E.A.C.E. aims to provide sustainable, supportive, and collaborative facility and event management for local nonprofits by leveraging the benefits of co-location. P.E.A.C.E. stands for People Enhancing A Community’s Environment. We managed the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. building successfully for two years and were able to add tenants during the Covid pandemic. At the conclusion of our master-lease we had accumulated a significant surplus in funds including $40,000 in utility overpayments the Library had to return to Coventry P.E.A.C.E., Inc.

We want to share some facts with you. There have been a lot of numbers thrown around lately, and we know it is difficult for the public to make heads or tails of what they mean. For some community members, a decision like this comes down to only numbers, and for others there is an immeasurable social benefit cost that is of greatest importance. We believe those concepts are not mutually exclusive. What we know is…

1. Financial sustainability & capital expenses. Rent paid to the Library has averaged about $18,000 more per year than standard operating costs of the building. With the recent increase in tenancy, and with further occupancy growth, the building will continue to do better than break-even and begin to build a substantial reserve fund for capital improvements that can be combined with grants, traditional financing, and capital campaigns to update the building in phases and achieve significant environmental improvements.
2. We have shown ourselves to be competent & responsible. Our organizations have always lived up to our responsibilities, absorbed every rent hike, and paid our full rent throughout the Covid pandemic. Upon conclusion of the Coventry P.E.A.C.E., Inc., master lease in 2022, the Library was required to return overpayments to Coventry P.E.A.C.E. and in turn, we gave the Library back $20,000 of these funds to put toward the cost of the future HVAC refurbishment project the Library had already decided to move forward with.
3. We have support from major funding organizations—IF we have long-term leases. There's genuine interest from external nonprofits in securing space here—multiple leases negotiated with the Library didn't materialize (for reasons we're not privy to). Our extensive research shows that a dedicated nonprofit managing the hub boosts lease negotiations and attracts external funding. We've garnered interest from a major foundation and a non-profit funder, contingent on securing a long-term lease (or ownership) to prevent funds from being diverted to separately funded institutions like the Library. Assembly for the Arts, a major regional advocacy group, publicly supports us and aims to assist in securing a resolution benefiting all stakeholders.
4. We are an important asset to our local economy. Our organizations employ over 60 people and serve nearly 20,000 people per year.

We are ready and able to resume the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus project. With Coventry P.E.A.C.E., Inc., as the long-term master lease holder (or owner) and facility manager ,a structure would be in place to establish an official nonprofit center capable of attracting tenants and forging partnerships for extensive fundraising to support major capital improvements. By avoiding costly external management—currently at about $90,000 annually under the Library’s oversight—this approach allows for innovative problem-solving beyond what a large government entity like the Library can offer. Collaboration among our institutions is crucial to breaking down silos and laying the groundwork for success, a strategy proven effective in communities statewide and beyond. But we are down to weeks, not months. We urge decisive action from leaders to help secure a lasting solution for all involved.

Cleveland Heights is known for its creativity and forward-thinking spirit, focusing on the intangibles that strengthen community vitality. What attracts residents here? What makes them want to stay and build their lives here? It's the vibrant local businesses, the rich arts scene and unique atmosphere that give Cleveland Heights its distinctive charm. What we have developed over the last several years is an important component to attract and retain residents—it adds to the overall quality of life that residents are looking for. We hope you will join us in envisioning and creating a future for our nonprofit collective that embodies these values. Together, we can uphold Cleveland Heights' reputation as "Home of the Arts" by securing the future of our diverse hub, which houses numerous local and regional creative nonprofits dedicated to enriching the lives of our residents and beyond. Together, we can “Keep the P.E.A.C.E.”

Most sincerely,
Coventry P.E.A.C.E.

As of July 1, 2024 nine of our organizations entered into a six month lease with our landlord (Cleveland Heights - University Heights Library). While this leaves us little time to find a solution, we are determined to work with our City Leadership, Library Leadership, business leaders and residents to find a resolution that will be a win-win for all stake holders. We remain dedicated to the neighborhood where we are located, and to all of those we serve throughout Cleveland Heights and beyond. We believe Cleveland Heights is "Home to the Arts" and we are an important piece of that. We hope you will join us in our efforts to "Keep The P.E.A.C.E.". Please be sure to add your name to our list of supporters, and be sure you have signed up for our emails to receive the latest updates.