City considers emergency resolution to obtain funds for Opera House development
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The city of Hillsboro is considering emergency action that could
assist in bringing funding for development to the Bell's Opera House.
According to the agenda for the Oct. 12 meeting, council will consider a resolution "authorizing the Mayor of the City of Hillsboro to submit an application to the Ohio Department of Development for Discretionary Funds to Provide Funding for stabilization/restoration of Bell’s Opera House and Declare an Emergency."
According to the resolution, "There is a need for stabilization and
restoration for this historic building to preserve the value of the city's downtown historic district. It is the intent of the city of Hillsboro to provide a portion of the overall funding by filing (the) application and entering into agreement with DOD for a grant of the discretionary funds to be loaned to the owner of the Bell's Opera House. This project has been approved by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, with improvements declared to have 'no adverse effect on the property of the downtown historic district.'
Peg Beekman, a grant writer for the city, said that the funding is
for approximately $150,000, which would be in the form of a grant, and it will not cost the city anything. "The city is applying for funds to come into the city, and it would then be loaned out."
Bell's Opera House owner Drew Hastings told The Highland County Press that he is working on creating a community non-profit organization that would oversee the future of the opera house.
Following a special meeting of the Hillsboro City Council on Sept. 23, during which council voted to accept a $74,000 bid from Hastings to purchase the city's former safety building on North High Street, Hastings told The Highland County Press that he wants to continue with efforts to revitalize uptown Hillsboro.
Although he has not filed with the Highland County Board of Elections, Hastings has not denied allegations he is considering running for the Hillsboro mayor's office in 2011.
"I am really glad I acquired (the former safety building)," Hastings
said. "A big part of the reason to acquire it is so I could ultimately develop it. There is a part of me that wanted to do that because I did not want to see it acquired by someone who was going to have some sort of halfway decent use, that wasn't going to enhance uptown. Not that I am trying to push my vision on anybody."
While he has ideas and goals for the space, Hastings said he doesn't want to rush into work on the structure and will focus on the opera house for a time.
"I am going to take a breather," he said. "I don't really think you want to do that building until you have a plan, and that plan will be arrived at by what the space considerations will allow, what community feedback and market feedback says that space should be used for. So I would not envision that space being developed for a year and a half to 18 months. Right now I am going to concentrate on the opera house, that is slowly in the process of being turned over to a non-profit and ultimately will be a community non-profit, which will free me up to head toward development of this fire house."
As the opera house plans are still in development, Hastings declined to comment further on the issue.
Hastings said he is looking into finding some tenants that could use
the fire house structure in its current state so that it can fund itself.
"I will probably put some short-term tenants in there. I am talking to an auto detailing company (among other businesses). They can be put in on a fairly short-term, when you don't want to do any big structural renovations. They can be in the space as long as it's safe."
The city evacuated the safety building in January 2006 due to "electrical issues." The Hillsboro Police Department did not return, and shared space at the sheriff's office at the Highland County Justice Center. Hillsboro Fire and Rescue moved back into the space after a temporary modular home was place in the vicinity to house the firefighters. Their new fire station was completed in early 2010, and the safety building was vacated.
When Hastings had first approached the city about acquiring the structure he had mentioned the possibility of a restaurant going into the space. While that is still a consideration, along with possibly a farmers' market, he is making no permanent plans just yet.
A farmers' market could go in within the next six months, he said.
"It's not going to be another empty structure. I would like to see that space utilized," Hastings said. "Obviously it's a different type of space than what I currently have."
The city of Hillsboro is considering emergency action that could assist in bringing funding for development to the Bell's Opera House.
According to the agenda for the Oct. 12 meeting, council will consider a resolution "authorizing the Mayor of the City of Hillsboro to submit an application to the Ohio Department of Development for Discretionary Funds to Provide Funding for stabilization/restoration of Bell’s Opera House and Declare an Emergency."
According to the resolution, "There is a need for stabilization and restoration for this historic building to preserve the value of the city's downtown historic district. It is the intent of the city of Hillsboro to provide a portion of the overall funding by filing (the) application and entering into agreement with DOD for a grant of the discretionary funds to be loaned to the owner of the Bell's Opera House. This project has been approved by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, with improvements declared to have 'no adverse effect on the property of the downtown historic district.'
Peg Beekman, a grant writer for the city, said that the funding is for approximately $150,000, which would be in the form of a grant, and it will not cost the city anything. "The city is applying for funds to come into the city, and it would then be loaned out."
Bell's Opera House owner Drew Hastings told The Highland County Press that he is working on creating a community non-profit organization that would oversee the future of the opera house.
Following a special meeting of the Hillsboro City Council on Sept. 23, during which council voted to accept a $74,000 bid from Hastings to purchase the city's former safety building on North High Street, Hastings told The Highland County Press that he wants to continue with efforts to revitalize uptown Hillsboro.
Although he has not filed with the Highland County Board of Elections, Hastings has not denied allegations he is considering running for the Hillsboro mayor's office in 2011.
"I am really glad I acquired (the former safety building)," Hastings said. "A big part of the reason to acquire it is so I could ultimately develop it. There is a part of me that wanted to do that because I did not want to see it acquired by someone who was going to have some sort of halfway decent use, that wasn't going to enhance uptown. Not that I am trying to push my vision on anybody."
While he has ideas and goals for the space, Hastings said he doesn't want to rush into work on the structure and will focus on the opera house for a time.
"I am going to take a breather," he said. "I don't really think you want to do that building until you have a plan, and that plan will be arrived at by what the space considerations will allow, what community feedback and market feedback says that space should be used for. So I would not envision that space being developed for a year and a half to 18 months. Right now I am going to concentrate on the opera house, that is slowly in the process of being turned over to a non-profit and ultimately will be a community non-profit, which will free me up to head toward development of this fire house."
As the opera house plans are still in development, Hastings declined to comment further on the issue.
Hastings said he is looking into finding some tenants that could use the fire house structure in its current state so that it can fund itself.
"I will probably put some short-term tenants in there. I am talking to an auto detailing company (among other businesses). They can be put in on a fairly short-term, when you don't want to do any big structural renovations. They can be in the space as long as it's safe."
The city evacuated the safety building in January 2006 due to "electrical issues." The Hillsboro Police Department did not return, and shared space at the sheriff's office at the Highland County Justice Center. Hillsboro Fire and Rescue moved back into the space after a temporary modular home was place in the vicinity to house the firefighters. Their new fire station was completed in early 2010, and the safety building was vacated.
When Hastings had first approached the city about acquiring the structure he had mentioned the possibility of a restaurant going into the space. While that is still a consideration, along with possibly a farmers' market, he is making no permanent plans just yet.
"A farmers' market is an example of a good adaptable tenant. We could put them in and move them around while renovating the space. That's something that has some flexibility."
A farmers' market could go in within the next six months, he said.
"It's not going to be another empty structure. I would like to see that space utilized," Hastings said. "Obviously it's a different type of space than what I currently have."
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