The LeBron James Family Foundation is planning to build a new house at 38 S. Balch St. in West Hill that will be used as an education center to teach families the basics of home ownership and home repair.
The parcel — which is on the west side of Balch Street and abuts the east side of House Three Thirty’s parking deck, would share spaces with the entertainment facility. The lot has been vacant for nearly a decade, according to documents from the City of Akron.
In October, the foundation applied to the City of Akron to establish “a school or community center in a Single Family Residence Use District.” The Planning Department recommended that the Board of Zoning Appeals approve the plan.
A public hearing was held Nov. 19 to allow neighboring residents to voice their support or concerns about the project — the zoning board voted to approve the appeal at that meeting.
House interior to include learning center
In the letter to the zoning board, the single-family structure proposed by the LJFF would be a Cape Cod-style, single-story house with vinyl siding and an asphalt-shingled gable roof. Its facade would have two double windows and a front porch.
Inside, the house would have a classroom, a learning center for participants to practice home repair, a dining room, kitchen, two bathrooms and two offices. The foundation would hire a part-time staff member to work at the center and lead the classes.
Responding to a request for more information about the education center, a foundation spokesperson said Dec. 10 that there is “a very special story brewing here with this project” and “we are firming up a few more elements before we’re ready to really put this out there for the whole community to learn and be excited about.”