FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Steve Wood, Superintendent
330-633-3291, ext. 8101
Tallmadge Schools Sells Dunbar Property
TALLMADGE, OH – (July 21, 2021) – Tallmadge City Schools has sold off one of its properties. The former Dunbar Primary School, located at 731 Dunbar Road, has been sold at auction, with the winning bid of $107,250 belonging to Summit Racing Equipment.
After completing Tallmadge Elementary School in March 2020, the district no longer has a need for the property, first opened as an elementary school in 1949. The district put the 8-acre lot – which includes the building, playground and T-ball field – up for an internet-based auction process, making it open to worldwide bidders and closing on July 15. Tallmadge Superintendent Steve Wood said keeping the Dunbar building was no longer practical for the school district.
“Selling Dunbar is consistent with the Board’s philosophy of only holding on to assets that serve the mission of education,” Wood said. “Dunbar has served the people and students of Tallmadge well for many years. It is a bittersweet moment as the time is right to sell the property.”
Wood added that there were multiple bidders and he is happy to have a local entity purchase the lot.
“There have been a lot of discussions throughout this process as to what to do with the Dunbar property,” Wood said. “We are glad to have a world-class, Tallmadge company win the bidding process. It’s important that such a storied area keeps its Tallmadge roots, and we know Summit Racing will be good stewards of the community’s needs.”
The Dunbar building will have to undergo asbestos abatement and demolition in a timely manner, and Summit Racing has committed to ensuring the property is safe and well maintained. Wood added that Summit Racing has already begun conversations with the City of Tallmadge on possible recreation and community use.
“Our purchase of this property will benefit the City of Tallmadge and members of the community, whether it is through an expansion that brings increased revenue and opportunities for employment, or its use as a space for recreation and gathering” stated Scott Peterson, President of Summit Racing Equipment.