<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0y0d5V_1BIR4uEX00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0y0d5V_1BIR4uEX00" width="1200" height="600" >SYLVANIA, Ohio (WTVG) - A multi-million dollar expansion is underway for a critical part of our community.The Ability Center has been focused on increasing independence for people with disabilities for more than 100 years and now a massive transformation of its Sylvania campus is officially underway.The Ability Center provides critical support from increasing independence for adults and children with disabilities to its assistance dogs program and advocacy work.Its reach has continued to expand through the years, now serving people in 13 counties. That growth meant it was time to grow its space.Ash Lemons is the executive director.“The Ability Center has been in the Toledo area for 106 years and this is the first time since about 1980 that we’ve expanded this much,” Lemons said.The expanded space will allow the center to add programs and new spaces to its campus.“We’ll have an art workshop, a 4,000 square foot event center. We’ll also have a teaching kitchen which will dual-serve as a warming kitchen as well, we’ll have a showroom and private spaces to work with people so they can qualify for the programs and services we delver here.”The project includes not only renovations of the existing facility, but also a large addition. Lyndsey Stough is the architect.“They get to stay on their original site where people are used to coming to right off of Monroe Street. It’s a beautiful site with the ravine surrounding it and they are almost doubling the current building size to be able to continue to improve their service to the community,” Stough said. “I know the distance and scale of impact on a project like this can have, not just in the immediate future, but for decades and for generations and to be able to have the honor to be a part of it is special and touching.”Stough says the improvements are not limited to the inside.“There is a big wooded area. We’ll put paths in of 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 mile to allow for walking paths both for the employees, for visitors, but also for the neighborhood to be able to emjoy as well staff and visitors. Neighbors can walk, as well,” Stough said.It’s an expansion building on a solid foundation.“You don’t always realize how much you impact people until hear their stories and see what they’re able to do once you’ve helped them. People are extremely grateful. Sometimes I feel like we can do more and that is what we are trying to do with this new facility,” Lemons said.The goal is to finish the project by summer of 2027.If you’d like to learn more about the new campus, click here.Because of the project, most work and offices have been moved out of the Sylvania campus to temporary locations. But the facility for the assistance dogs will remain open during the project.Latest Local News | First Alert Weather | Crime | National | 13abc Originals</div></body>

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SYLVANIA, Ohio (WTVG) - A multi-million dollar expansion is underway for a critical part of our community. The Ability Center has been focused on increasing independence for people with disabilities for more than 100 years and now a massive transformation of its Sylvania campus is officially underway. The Ability Center...

Major expansion underway for Ability Center

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SYLVANIA, Ohio (WTVG) - A multi-million dollar expansion is underway for a critical part of our community. The Ability Center has been focused on increasin

Major expansion underway for Ability Center

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