News
Armory Plans Discussed, Along With Parking
By: Susan Tebben
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Conversations at last night’s public forum wound through issues of pedestrian-friendly areas and neighborhood landmarks as the future of the Athens armory was discussed.
On Wednesday night, city officials, designers, business owners and residents came together at the Athens Community Center to talk about the stone building at the end of Court Street.
The former Ohio National Guard Armory at the north end of Court Street was built in 1914 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, according to City Planner Paul Logue. The building was purchased by the city in 1997.
Mayor Steve Patterson, who was a part of an “ad hoc” committee that discussed ideas for the building before approaching the public with plans, said the armory is now in a “ready state” to turn into city space.
A presentation was made by Leslie Schaller, director of programs and business development with the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks, or ACENet. She said the preservation of this building would be beneficial for the city of Athens, not only for year-round residents, but for alumni of Ohio University who return to the city.
The attraction to the city is not just the university, Schaller said, but what the city has, an experience to which the armory building could add.
“They might be coming to Homecoming in a couple weeks, but they’re also coming for the local restaurants, or to drink some craft beer or to walk in Sells Park,” Schaller said. “I think sometimes we undersell ourselves or underestimate ourselves.”
She used the armory building in Columbus that is now the Cultural Arts Center as an example of one type of use the building could have.
The market and use study done by ACENet and RVC Architects looked at the building through the lenses of historical preservation and longterm financial viability, Schaller said.
The study was funded through a Certified Local Government grant through the Ohio History Connection with matching funds from the city. A total amount paid for the study was not available at the meeting.
Funding and revenue sources for construction and maintenance of the building was discussed, but no numbers were mentioned during the public forum. The City of Athens would maintain ownership of the building and City Council would be charged with approving funding for the project.
In terms of funding the project, Schaller said state budget monies, development grants, business incubation and tax credits could be used in the process of bringing the building back to life.
“It might take a lot of phases to raise the capital to complete the plan,” she told the audience of about 40 people.
In terms of revenue, different floors could play different roles, according to the potential plans. The main floor could be used as an event space, while the lower level could include a commercial kitchen and small meeting spaces, along with retail.
The plans for the mezzanine level included rental office space.
The public raised different issues, asking questions about the original purpose of the building was and what the process would be to rework the building.
Inevitably, the subject of parking came up as well.
“I keep seeing the same old thing that we’re doing…the university has these (event spaces), the city already these,” said Joan Kraynanski.
Kraynanski, who ran for city council in the last election, proposed that the facade of the building be kept, but the top two floors of the 15,000 sq. ft. building be made into a parking garage. Largely, the audience disagreed with that plan.
“I don’t think pushing and pulling a few parking spaces is going to solve (a lack of parking issue),” said Keith Chapman. “I see development as solving parking when it’s smart development.”
Chapman owns a business on Court Street and was a member of the ad hoc committee discussing the armory building. He said when he was growing up in Athens, the armory was used for rummage sales, dances, and as a voting location.
Both Schaller and Paige Alost, executive director of the Athens County Visitor’s Bureau, said they wanted to bring the armory in as a part of a “family” of facilities, including the Dairy Barn and ARTS/West, and bring in another opportunity for events.
“We’re great on the weekends,” Alost said. “We want to have the ability to bring in midweek business. We could do a lot more and we could make a lot more.”
The next steps in the plan are to include the public comment into the plans that will be sent to the Ohio Historic Preservation Office for approval. Schaller said plans should be submitted by the end of September.