The Richwood Revitalization Committee recently met virtually with TRIAD Architects and independent contractors to discuss the conceptual design for the former opera house and municipal building.
Committee Chairman Reddy Brown told the Marysville Journal-Tribune the historical structure “is generally a two-story building with a partial basement and a partial third floor with attic and clock tower levels above.”
“The layout consists of a basement used for storage and mechanical equipment, a first floor used for offices and three bays for equipment storage,” Brown wrote in an email.
The first floor contains 5,990 square feet and the second floor contains 4,600 square feet of occupiable building area, Brown said.
The proposed first floor design includes offices for the clerk and mayor, a community space, a council meeting room, a lobby, a break room, restrooms, a computer server storage room, an open office area, a records storage room, a multi-use space and a community resources room. Additionally, there would be a vestibule through the main entrance with double doors.
Other design elements are wooden floors, acoustic ceiling baffles to absorb sound and an elevator.
In a regular meeting on Thursday, Vice Chairman Aaron expressed concern about the open office space intended for the zoning inspector and the village administrator.
“How was that decided who would get an office and who wouldn’t?” he asked. “In my opinion, I think, the mayor is one of the people who probably doesn’t need an office because it’s kind of a part-time gig.”
He explained that he does not want to assume the village administrator will always be the police chief, although Monte Asher currently fills both roles. The committee discussed not designating the offices for particular positions, except for the fiscal officer.
Additionally, there was some adversity from the mayor and village administrator in previous discussions with the village council about moving offices to the opera house building on South Franklin Street. The current officials prefer to keep the municipal building with the police department at 153 N. Franklin St.
As the restoration will not be completed for a decade or so, the committee stressed the importance of flexibility in the structure, such as moveable walls, for different needs in the future.
The second floor will feature an event space that could be rented for weddings or other large gatherings. The team at TRIAD Architects said the existing wood floor could be salvaged with repairs. The conceptual design also incorporates a 30-by-12 foot stage. Furthermore, the designers plan to repurpose the south side fire escape railing for an interior staircase.
During the meeting with TRIAD Architects, Brown said the event space should seat at least 300 people to be competitive with other venues in the area.
There will also be a bridal suite and catering kitchen upstairs.
At this time, the projector room and clock tower will remain untouched. The committee plans to retain the existing brick walls and foundation as well. Brown added that the theater seating floor joists in the basement, the steam boiler and visible roof rafters upstairs will also remain as they are for historical integrity.
“We’re trying very hard to keep as much of the original building as possible, but it may be used in a different way or in a different place,” said alternate committee member Laurie Eliot-Shea.
Brown added that maintaining “the history and the beauty is a big part of our philosophy.”
The cost of the restoration project is estimated to be $1.9 million, which includes the downstairs renovation, upstairs renovation, new shingled roof covering, HVAC and new electrical systems on both floors, updated safety systems and an elevator. The unofficial quote also includes $200,000 in construction contingency. Brown said the work will proceed in phases as the funding is available.
An asphalt roof would likely be an additional $110,000. Furthermore, the quote does not include furnishings.
Brown said the final quote and design are expected in the coming weeks.
The next step in the restoration project is to conduct a financial feasibility study. Sarah Barr is no longer available to conduct the study.
Michael Hurwitz from Telesolve Company in Reynoldsburg, who was a candidate for the financial feasibility study, expressed interest in working with the committee again. The committee hopes to meet with Hurwitz at a regular meeting in January or at a special meeting if necessary to accommodate Hurwitz’s availability.
The committee will also continue to work on grant applications and fundraising. According to Treasurer Rachel Shadel’s latest report, the committee paid Meyer Restoration Inc. $9,158. The company removed the antenna and laid it on the south side of the building, patched approximately 40 holes, visible and water spray found, caulked all gutter seams, caulked entirely around each gutter where it meets the tower, found and added a temporary ridge cap over the large hole, where the ridge cap on the north side has been missing for some years, removed and added a temporary ridge cap on the south side and discovered missing slate on the east side, which caused leakage next to the clock. The company covered and flashed the hole with break metal and caulking.
Recent fundraising efforts have raised $3,331. DeGood-Guy said the committee has also received individual donations of $500 and $100. Shadel added that there is almost $5,000 in the Richwood Coffee account.
Eliot-Shea proposed approaching a solar farm company about funding for a new roof. Brown said he has approached Chris Simmons, the Northeast/Midwest land manager for Samsung C&T America which is developing Samsung Richwood Solar, about a $10,000 contribution for the project or for a trail head at the park but has not received any follow-up inquiries.
“He hasn’t jumped at the chance to give me $10,000 yet, so I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t mind asking him for $110,000 for the roof cover.”
The committee noted that Acciona, which is the developer of the Union Solar project, gave a donation to the Richwood Fairgrounds for new restrooms.
“The farmers use the fairgrounds, and the farmers are the ones they have the most opposition from, so they definitely had a good reason to do that one,” Brown said.
Shadel offered to work on a proposal to solar companies with guidance from Committee member Tracy Plouck, who has worked on applications for capital funds and other grants.