Sharp House Preservation Planned. East of Africa Updates. Parks & Rec Planning Meeting. School Board Approves Planning Cuts.
Restoration of Sharp House Underway in Westerville, Tied to Underground Railroad History
A Westerville Historical Society talk highlights the story behind a one-acre site now undergoing $ 131,000 in city-funded preservation work.
The Sharp House is one of the few remaining structures in Westerville with a direct tie to the Underground Railroad. It’s now the focus of a $131,000 Phase 1 renovation funded by the City of Westerville.
While restoration planning has been underway for some time, the project gained renewed public attention last Friday during a talk by former Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi, hosted by the Westerville Historical Society. Cocuzzi traced the story of the Sharp family, whose ancestors originally purchased 250 acres in the 1800s. The 88-acre farm where the Sharp House stands was carved from that larger tract. Today, just one acre remains, preserved by the city.
Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, the home served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Cocuzzi noted the importance of preserving this quiet landmark: “This home stands as a witness to the kind of courage and conviction that shaped Westerville’s early identity.”
The city’s Phase 1 renovation work includes:
$60,000 for masonry cleaning and repairs
$20,000 for asbestos and lead abatement
$10,000 in HVAC repairs after a full system evaluation
$6,264 for roof and gutter replacement
Pest control, fogging, and sanitation
Repairs to basement thresholds and lintels
Removal of the back porch (foundation slab to remain)
With a built-in 15% contingency, the total project budget comes to $131,247.20.
The Sharp House is situated on land acquired by the city as part of a broader economic development strategy. For now, officials are focused on stabilizing and preserving the historic structure. The future use of the site is still under discussion between the city and developers.
The Historic Sharp House: A Legacy Preserved Amidst Westerville’s Economic Expansion
East of Africa Road System Gets First Curbs
While farmers and gardeners have been hoping for rain, the contractors of Westerville’s East of Africa development project have enjoyed rain-free days, allowing them to quickly move toward paving the road system by November, before the asphalt plants close for the winter.
The small section in the photo above was laid on Monday before the rain stopped progress for the day.
Westerville Parks to Present Renovation Plans Again After Low Turnout at Initial Meeting
The Westerville Parks and Recreation Department will hold a second public meeting on Tuesday night to present renovation plans for three city parks and a wetland restoration project behind the Community Center. This follows the first presentation, held at Everal Barn, which saw low public turnout. Some residents noted that the initial meeting was not widely advertised and conflicted with the first week of school activities, limiting attendance.
Tuesday's meeting provides another chance for the public to review proposed upgrades and give feedback. Plans include park-wide accessibility improvements, new play features, facility replacements, and environmental upgrades like rebuilding a lost wetland to support native wildlife and enhance stormwater management. City staff stressed that designs are still in progress and that public input remains important.
Everal Barn Set for Major Interior and Exterior Upgrades
As part of Westerville's ongoing park improvements, the historic Everal Barn is scheduled for major renovations to boost accessibility, enhance energy efficiency, and ensure long-term preservation. Inside, the main gathering area will get new ADA-compliant flooring, fresh paint on wood and brick surfaces, and modern, energy-efficient lighting. The seating area will keep its original wood floors and walls, which will be cleaned and refinished, with lighting also upgraded throughout.
A key part of the plan—not noted in public design boards—is a complete exterior restoration. The existing barn siding, which currently lets wind and moisture through, will be removed and replaced with new siding. Before installing new siding, crews will wrap the structure in a protective barrier to improve insulation and prevent future weather damage. This upgrade will make the space more comfortable year-round while preserving the building’s historic character.
Wetland Restoration Planned Near Community Center
Westerville Parks and Recreation is also planning the restoration of the Alkire Run Wetland and Floodplain, located just behind the Community Center. The four-acre site will be redesigned to reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and create new wildlife habitat.
The project involves realigning the stream more naturally, adding two acres of wetland buffer, and planting native trees and shrubs. The restored wetland will also feature wet meadow plantings, seasonal and semi-permanent wetland pools, and an overlook area for visitors. A pedestrian bridge across the area has already been installed to allow for public access. The restoration is expected to be complete by mid-2026.
Millstone Creek Park Plans: A More Inclusive and Engaging Experience
City officials will also present a redesign of Millstone Creek Park focused on creating a more inclusive, engaging, and sensory-rich play environment for children of all ages and abilities. The proposal includes a new, universally accessible playground, nature play features such as logs and boulders, and shaded seating areas.
Highlights of the design include a "Chime Forest" for sensory play, a quiet zone, turf mounds, and seasonal plantings. The plan aims to break up the large play area into distinct zones to enhance supervision and promote various types of play. Existing swings and boulders will be reused, and accessibility upgrades will go beyond wheelchair access to better serve a broader range of physical and sensory needs.
Highlands Park Shelter to Be Replaced
Another item on the agenda is the replacement of the aging shelter at Highlands Park. Located at the baseball fields, the current shelter has reached the end of its useful life. The proposed replacement will not only restore the structure but will include design and functionality upgrades to better support events, gatherings, and everyday park use.
Tuesday’s meeting is 6-8 p.m. at the Community Center.
Westerville School Board Approves Plans For Budget Cuts
Westerville City Schools has outlined $20 million in potential budget cuts if voters reject a proposed earned income tax levy this November, with staffing and student programs facing the deepest reductions.
The most significant savings, approximately $12.3 million, would result from eliminating more than 100 jobs, including up to 44 elementary, 31 middle school, and 19 high school positions, as well as 10 administrative roles. Elementary schools would lose art, music, physical education, and library staff. Middle school cuts would target math, reading, science, and social studies. High schools would see reductions in staff for math, English, science, social studies, and the library. The district would also eliminate the International Baccalaureate program, reduce the number of electives, increase class sizes, and scale back Advanced Placement offerings.
Another $5.4 million in savings would be achieved by ending summer school, all-day kindergarten, and field trips, as well as reducing overtime, increasing facility rental fees, and cutting contracted services. The district also projects $1.3 million in additional revenue by raising student fees. Pay-to-play costs for sports would rise to $350 per sport for middle school students and $500 per sport for high school students, with no family cap. Clubs and activities would add fees of $25 at the middle school level and $50 in high schools.
The district, which serves approximately 14,600 students across 24 schools, faces a $20 million deficit in its $229 million operating budget following last year’s property tax levy failure. The proposed earned income levy would generate $23.3 million annually and would apply only to wages and salaries, excluding property and retirement income.
Supporters argue that the measure addresses community concerns about property taxes. “The community says no more property taxes, so this isn’t a property tax. This is an earned income levy,” said Kevin Hoffman, co-chair of Yes for Westerville Schools.
Opponents, including Concerned Citizens of Westerville, argue that the district should reduce administrative costs, share services with neighboring districts, and utilize its $100 million cash reserves. “It’s a trade-off of income tax hike or pay-to-play,” said group founder Doug Krinsky.
The November vote will determine whether the district secures new revenue or enacts the sweeping cuts.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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