Marysville’s Design Review Board approved plans for a Build Cowork + Space, a co-working space that provides shared offices, conference rooms and internet for businesses. The owners are planning to renovate and move into the Lamplighter, 129 N. Main St. (Photo submitted)
Marysville’s Design Review Board has approved design plans for a new shared space office facility to be located in the Uptown’s Lamplighter Building.
Build Cowork + Space is looking to renovate and move into the Lamplighter, 129 N. Main St., Marysville. Currently the building holds the Marysville Entrepreneurial Center, which will locate inside the co-op space.
Jason Duff, with Main Street Realty Ohio, said a facility with shared offices, conference rooms and internet has been a need in the community.
“Post-COVID, that need has grown significantly,” Duff said.
Duff said membership options begin at $99 a month and members get a key fob that, “gets you private access 24 hours a day to the facility.”
“I am excited to be here,” Duff said. “I think there is incredible opportunities in the Uptown.”
His company owns and operates a similar facility in Bellefontaine. He said the site location is a key factor for drawing tenants.
Duff said the Marysville location is within walking distance of a coffee shop, Uptown restaurants and parking.
“Coworking is a new thing for small towns. A lot of people don’t understand what it is,” Duff said.
He said there are people already working in Uptown businesses like the coffee shop.
“We want to keep them working in Uptown Marysville and Union County,” Duff said.
He said the goal is to help them, “join and belong to something — belong to a community and build what you love, that may be your non-profit, that may be your business, that may be something you are passionate about your art.”
Board member Matt Stiffler said he is struggling with city staff’s recommendation that Duff reconsider the black paint and use a more historic color.
“I am kind of struggling with the recommendation that you choose a more historical color because I actually like the black and I like the coworking, modern feel, but it is in the historical district, so I am kind of struggling with that a little bit, mulling that over,” Stiffler said. “What I really like, you have taken something that is nonconforming, a little out of place between those two buildings, and made it really neat and I appreciate that.”
Duff explained that he too struggled with that as well.
“My team and I do every bit of effort to preserve and maintain historic integrity with buildings and structures,” Duff said. “This one really didn’t have anything to start with and as we were discussing trying to make it look historical, every time we went to the drawing board, it looked more awkward and out of place.”
Board member Scot Draughn said he “applauds” the efforts. He said the two neighboring buildings have historic looks, but the Lamplighter Building does not.
“So rather than create something that fights with those, you are kind of respecting their independence with something that doesn’t scream ‘Look at me,’” Draughn said.
Duff said the design is intentional.
“We wanted to really try to get additional height out of the facade to have it feel a little more connected in the Uptown,” Duff said. “And also look at the historic color palate, focusing on jewel colors that actually really help bring in a little bit of interesting things that draw your eye without looking like it stands out.”
Duff said the bottom portion of the building was to be wood, but city officials stressed the need for brick in the Uptown. Duff said designers took that into consideration, but will paint the brick, “to give it a little bit of an uplift in terms of a vibe that honors the history but also appeals to younger people because we want to keep younger people wanting to live, work and be a part of the Uptown.”
A rooftop patio is part of that appeal, Duff said.
“The intention of the patio is really a members-only area so when weather is permitting if you want to have conversations with clients, you want to be able to work out of your home and have an area that is within the Uptown, that is the vision with that,” Duff said.
He said his company built a balcony on the Bellefontaine building.
“That has become one of the most unique amenities in the historic downtown,” Duff said.
Board members asked if there was concern about having an outside set of steps. Duff said the Bellefontaine facility has a similar set of stairs. He said that given the general lighting and security of the Uptown, along with proper lighting, cameras and a lock bar, “we have yet to have any problems with inappropriate access to our rooftop patio.”
He said the balcony along with the outside staircase helps create “energy.”
Board members asked about a restaurant or food vendor in the building.
Duff said the site, “just unfortunately doesn’t have the room and programming to have multiple food vendors and operators.”
He said there will be a community kitchen and bar inside the front of the facility.
“That bar will accommodate outside caterers to be able to bring in food and have lunch service.”
Duff said there will be café style tables in front of the building. He said it is important to create “more outdoor dining, parklets, people into those spaces, because sadly if we don’t take steps to do that, Dublin and Bridge Park will literally eat our lunch.”