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City’s new ice arena a step closer

City Commission, Ohio Historic Preservation Office ink agreement on  Memorial Hall demolition.

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By Kelly Mori, Staff Writer Updated 11:01 PM Tuesday, July 6, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — The City of Springfield has reached an agreement with the Ohio Historic Preservation Office concerning the Memorial Hall demolition. The agreement, which was passed by the City Commission on Tuesday, July 6, takes the city closer to preparing the site for National Trail Parks and Recreation District’s new ice arena.

The agreement comes at the conclusion of an environmental impact review which determined that with the preservation of certain items previously agreed upon by the Landmarks Commission, along with proper recording of the site’s historic significance to the community, the demolition of the site would not negatively impact the area.

“Essentially this completes the federal reviews needed to draw down a federal grant to help (National Trail) to help purchase the property,” said Community Development Director Shannon Meadows.

National Trail needs to have a purchase agreement by October in order to receive the $500,000 federal grant, said National Trail CEO Tim Smith.

This is the second time National Trail and the city have gone through a demolition-for-ice-arena project. National Trail gave up its first cleared site at 100 W. Main to Ohio Valley Medical Center, which opened its new surgical hospital on the site in 2009.

A demolition date for Memorial Hall has not been set. However, Healthy City Investments, which owns the property, would like to complete the demolition before winter in order to protect the facade from the elements, Meadows said.

The $5.5 million ice area is the last major portion of a $17 million capital campaign that also included the Carleton Davidson Stadium, Splash Zone Family Aquatics Center and several smaller projects.

A combination of private donations, public dollars and a one-year, half-cent sales tax paid for the campaign.

In other business the commission:

• Gave a first reading to changes to the city’s hedge and fence code that would expand property owners’ options when it comes to fence and hedge sizes, density and locations.

• Approved a resolution to apply for state funding for the reconstruction and resurfacing of Harding Road.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0347 or kmori@coxohio.com.

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