NEO Soccer Facility in Parma Heights. (John Benson/cleveland.com)

PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council last night (Jan. 26) unanimously committed city dollars to a Cuyahoga Land Bank application that, if approved, will result in the demolition of the NEO Soccer Facility.

“At the end of last year, the city started looking into demolition funds and grants to demolish the NEO Soccer Facility,” Mayor Marie Gallo said. “The building has a lot of issues. The roof repair alone would be more than $1 million. The building is valued at half that.

“The city just doesn’t have the funds to operate the building, which is in bad shape. So it would be irresponsible to leave grant opportunities on the table to help us assist with this building.”

Built in 1974 and formerly an ice-skating rink, the more than 39,000-square-foot NEO Soccer Facility has come under hard times. It was last used in early 2020.

Gallo said in addition to the severely deteriorated roof, there are visibly corroded structural steel beams and steel roof purlins, as well as numerous cracks in the structural block walls, including a stress crack in the front entrance facade.

“We had the building department inspect the facility, “Gallo said. “The city has done the leg work to show proof to (the Cuyahoga Land Bank) that the building can’t be salvaged.”

Parma Heights Director of Community and Economic Development Joe Sebes said the city, which already has submitted a preliminary application, is seeking up to $300,000 in grants funds, which require a 25 percent match.

As for the total cost to demolish the NEO Soccer Facility, it’s undetermined at this date and would require going out to bid.

“This is the first time the city sought funds to demolish the NEO Soccer Facility,” Sebes said. “It’s a big decision, and a huge opportunity for a lot of money to secure for a good project.”

If the city’s Cuyahoga Land Bank application is approved, the funds must be used by 2023. As far as any plans Parma Heights has for the future use of the land, Gallo said it will remain recreation based and most likely green space.

“Anything is on the table. It’s just a matter if down the road we can come up with funding to have a facility there,” Gallo said. “Hopefully, we get this grant funding, repurpose that area and bring the residents something they can enjoy.”

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