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Owner floats plan to locate new justice center in old Tiffin school

The old East Junior High building in downtown Tiffin has been abandoned for years. Now the current owner hopes the historic building will be considered as a possible site for the future Joint Justice Center.

TIFFIN, OH (Toledo News Now) - The old East Junior High building in downtown Tiffin has been abandoned for years. The city and county have looked into utilizing the building in the past, but nothing has been done.

Now the current owner hopes the historic building will be considered as a possible site for the future Joint Justice Center.

Built in 1893, the East Junior High building has seen better days. Residents are hopeful the building can be renovated.

"Definitely. It has been such an eyesore. I am thrilled that something might be done with it," said Anne Martin, who went to school in the building.

Andrew Kalnow bought the property in 2012 and renamed it the East Tower. He recently announced to officials he was willing to offer the building as a site for the proposed new Seneca County Joint Justice Center.

A recent study recommends the center be built on the site of the old Seneca County Courthouse, but Kalnow believes a historic building like the east tower would be a better fit.

"If something could be done that makes sense for justice center here, it may very well be a viable alternative," said Kalnow.

The same site study says if the justice center were to be built on the East Tower property, it would be more effective to tear down the historic building and put in a new structure in its place.

Kalnow feels demolishing such a historic building would be counterproductive.

"Going beyond just preservation of this building to have a bigger project go on. You're right, there is a small renaissance that's happening, we think, in Tiffin. So, we can add to that momentum," said Kalnow.

County officials will begin reading over the justice center site study next week.

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