PERRYSBURG, Ohio — Is Perrysburg becoming the next Boomtown?
It's no secret that Perrysburg has become a hot place to move to or establish your home, but a deeper look into that growth shows that it comes at a cost on several levels.
Perrysburg is a city steeped in history when you think of Fort Meigs and its reenactments of the War of 1812, but it's not a city that's stuck in the past. The Town Center at Levis Commons is 20 years old but growing thanks to new restaurants, hotels and 3.5 million visitors over the past year.
There's commercial growth with Mercy Hospital, Ohio CAT, Peterbilt, SCHÜTZ Packaging Systems, and an impressive jump in population.
While the 2010 US Census showed 20,623 people living in Perrysburg, the 2020 Census showed the population exploded to 25,041. That's an increase of 4,418 people and a 21% jump.
This happened as the city of Toledo lost 16,387 residents, Oregon lost 341 residents and Findlay saw a drop of 889 residents.
"When I moved here in 1990, we were 12,000. So we've literally doubled in size since I've moved to Perrysburg," Mayor Tom Mackin said.
Mackin told WTOL 11 that Perrysburg has been fueled by top-performing schools and businesses. The city has also seen a big jump in people using the parks, such as Rivercrest and Rotary Park.
Recently opened pickleball courts at Rotary Park have been a huge hit.
"If you're coming to form a business or you're coming to move from out of town, you're looking at a place where you can fit in, where your family can fit in. where you can feel that there's some, some connection to the community. And I think that we've been really good at that part of it," Mackin said.
But with all of this growing comes growing pains.
Perrysburg Schools Concerns
These are most easily seen from the overcrowding at Perrysburg schools. Trailers were brought in for classrooms after major increases in enrollment.
The current senior class added 143 students since they were in kindergarten, while freshmen and eighth grade classes each added 104 students since kindergarten.
Just to maintain operations, school leaders tried to push through an incremental operating levy but voters rejected it in the Nov. 5 election. That means on Jan. 1, 2025, the district will not be collecting a hoped-for $13.5 million.
Cuts to teachers, administration, classroom aides, clubs and sports programs could be coming in the near future.
School Superintendent Tom Hosler is worried that people might start looking at other options.
"And, and you know, when a home sits on the market for a month or two months because people don't want to bring their families here because things with the schools are a little uncertain, that home value is going to start to, to decline," Hosler said.
Impact on Safety and Service Forces
Perrysburg's growth is also affecting safety. The Perrysburg Fire Division had 3,049 total calls for service in 2022. That number jumped to 3,179 in 2023 – a 4% increase.
This year, they're predicted to take on 3,592 calls, which would be a 13% increase from last year.
Adding to that, there was a 37% call overlap in 2023 when both local fire stations were out on runs at the same time. In 2024, it jumped to 41%.
"We are of the belief that the person that calls 911, you know, shouldn't have to qualify," said Fire Chief Bill McCullough. "They shouldn't have to be the first person to call, should get the same level of service as the third and fourth person that calls. And that's really challenging to do when we're growing at the speed that we are."
Due to the increase in calls, Chief McCullough has requested three more firefighters in next year's budget.
Due to the growth in the southwest part of the city, Perrysburg Director of Public Service Rob Ross said they had to add another snowplow route and they'll soon have to add more trash routes.
"Six new developments have added over 800 homes in the last 10 years. So we're addressing that," Ross explained. "So next, next year probably is when we'll implement a sixth route and add sixth driver. With adding routes comes adding equipment."
Ross also said the city isn't seeing a dramatic increase in traffic, but the department is anticipating having to change the timing of the signals at some point.
The roads with the most traffic now are Roachton Road, Route 25, Eckel Junction Road, Fort Meigs Road and River Road.
Mackin was asked if these collective challenges keep him up at night.
"Yes, they do there. There's always, uh, my hair is white and it's probably from the stress of various things," Mackin said.
Perrysburg Real Estate Future
Jon Modene, a broker for Remax Masters in Perrysburg, says the real estate market in Perrysburg is good. Home values are up 40%.
More buyers means inventory is at an all-time low, and that's driving prices way up.
"In the old, the old days, you know, Forrester Wehrle and Dold [Homes] would build houses that normal working people could afford on one salary and, and those days are gone," Modene said. "So, for Perrysburg today, you need a hefty income to be able to afford to live here."
He said home prices now are in the $500,000 to $700,000 price range. Some are up to $800,000, and Modene says that's not changing any time soon.
"People will always pay more for a Perrysburg house because of the quality of life, the quality of schools, the greater resale value, the greater appreciation and that Perrysburg premium is still in effect today. If you're a buyer, you're going to pay it for sure," Modene said.
When does the city say 'no?'
WTOL 11 asked Mayor Mackin if the responsibility was on city leaders to start saying no to some things. Should they start putting the brakes on development?
Mackin replied, "Well, I think we do. That's what the land use plan is for."
The mayor expressed the city is being careful by following a Land Use Plan that lists growth and taxes as the most important factors to watch in the next 10 years. It also says residents strongly want to conserve land and open space.
View the plan:
Despite the challenges, school superintendent Tom Hosler is excited about what's to come for the schools and says these challenges are good problems to have.
"It's the fight worth fighting because, you know, we can't turn kids away," Hosler said.