I wanted to highlight the winners of our annual Heritage Ohio awards. We announce these awards each year at a fancy luncheon at our conference. Jeff took the pics!
Top Opportunity Success Story sponsored by Gray and Pape of Cincinnati
Woman’s Art Council of Cincinnati Mariemont
Nominated and recognized in 2007 during Heritage Ohio’s inaugural Top Opportunities List the historic Resthaven Barn Project certainly exemplifies what Top Opportunities was meant to do – highlight wonderful buildings that had a future in contributing to the liveliness of the community. The Resthaven Barn was built in 1924 as a model farm and dairy which operated from 1924-1940 in Mariemont (NHL 2007). After the farm closed the village took over the property to house their maintenance department and equipment. They then relocated in 2005 leaving the buildings vacant and without purpose; and with a $1 million dollar rehabilitation estimate, not a lot of support. The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati saw the potential and stepped forward buying the building in 2006 for $50,000 and with stipulations that renovation work begin in 6 months and occupancy within 2 years! Following an aggressive fundraising campaign and renovation the new Cultural Center opened in 2007. The facility houses an exhibition gallery, artist studios, classrooms, and meeting space.
Best Small Residential sponsored by Union Metal
Howard House
This unusual little Gothic Revival cobblestone house c. 1853 has the dedicated stewardship of its owner Mr. Kenneth Kessler. A masonry challenge the building’s owner brought in ARRC, Inc as architects and Mason’s Mark as masons to rehabilitate a home with a maze of cracks, failure points and inappropriate prior cement “repairs.” Analysis of the mortar and testing of possible mixes added to the intrigue of working on an essentially forgotten craftsman’s skill and work of art. Replacement stone was found on the property and all sand and mortars for the project was mined within 15 miles. The project was privately financed.
Large Residential sponsored by Union Metal
Park Lane Villa
Built in 1923 as a grand residential hotel, this Beaux Arts French Renaissance masterpiece is part of the Wade Park Historic District in Cleveland. Converted from grand to subsidized housing for the elderly, deferred maintenance compromised the structure forcing its abrupt closure. The City of Cleveland turned to Finch Group who worked with City Architecture and Marous Brothers Construction to bring the building back, now the building boasts 96 high-end apartments with over 40 unique floor plans. Low quality replacement windows from the 70’s had to be replaced. And the original splendor has been return to ballroom and lobbies. Complex financing, of multiple mortgages grants and tax credits made this $30 million dollar restoration possible. The sustainability of historic buildings was important to the partners recognizing the greenest building is the one already built.
Best Commercial Rehabilitation sponsored by Ulmer and Berne LLP
East 4th Street
This years’ award winner is not just one historic building, but an entire block of buildings, both sides! This block of East 4th Street was built-up between 1875 and 1951, with buildings ranging from two- stories to eight stories high. In the heart of what is now known as the Historic Gateway District several dedicated building owners banded together back in the late 1990s; beginning with acquiring National Register listing then developing a vision to turn this block around. During this time MRN Ltd. acquired most of the buildings, and followed a comprehensive plan to integrate restaurant, entertainment, housing and retail. The City of Cleveland served as a critical partner in infrastructure improvements, loans and abatements. Historic tax credits have been enhanced by the use of conservation easements which have provided $22 million in equity.
Best Public Improvement sponsored by Hardlines Design Co.
Ft. Piqua Hotel
Thousands of people attended the grand re-opening of the historic Fort Piqua Hotel on October 19th 2008. The 88,000 square foot landmark in Piqua opened its doors in 1891. The building has played a role in community history through the decades from hosting all three presidential candidates in the famous 1912 presidential election to being the location of sit-ins during the racially tense 1960s. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 did not prevent the building’s closure and abandonment in 1982. In 2001 city leaders determined they needed to take the lead in bringing this building back to serviceable use. Jeff Wray Architects began the process with a feasibility study, the community’s Flesh Public Library looking to expand, brought in their architects, MKC-PSA; and the planning, designing and engineering made for a complicated project through 2006 when preliminary plan approval was given. The complex financing used multiple grants, tax credits and tremendous private fundraising from this modest community. Today this $21 million rehabilitation offers not only state of the art library, but restaurant and retail on the ground floor and beautiful conference facilities on the top floor.
Best Business sponsored by EG&G
Chas and Gordon Geiger, Geiger Clothing & Sport Lakewood Ohio
A family owned business in located in the heart of Downtown Lakewood celebrated 75 years in business in 2007. Chas and Gordon Geiger along with their wives Patti and Susan represent the third generation of Geiger’s continuing a long tradition of fine clothing and service which began as a haberdashery. The Geiger’s have served as role models for the business community and generous sponsors to the multitude of community events. The business of course carries high quality merchandise and exemplary service, but pushes to have professionally designed windows, always up-to-date web presence, and electronic marketing. They don’t need to be told how important it is to have both attractive front as well a rear entrances, sparkling windows, and clean sidewalks. This destination business is leading the way based on a long history of success.
Creative Fundraiser sponsored by America in Bloom
City Hop
This year the Columbus Landmarks Foundation is preparing to celebrate their 10th year of City Hop — an annual self-guided tour of downtown living spaces that attracts thousands or people to downtown Columbus. This is the organizations’ main fundraising event involving hundreds of volunteers coordinated over the spring months as sponsorships are sought, guide books printed, transportation and way-finding logistics determined. The critical relationship with downtown developers, realtors, businesses and residents for a tour which includes 15 to 20 living spaces in various stages of rehabilitation from raw to furnished is a massive undertaking.
Promotional Event – TIE the award sponsored by Chambers Murphy and Burge Restoration Architects
Windows on Tippecanoe
Again, not the first community to have an ‘Art Show’, but recognizing how this Promotional Event showcased the organizational skills and partnerships formed in a community collaboration which is going to bring success to Tipp City’s downtown.
This event appropriately provided the seed money for a new Tippecanoe Arts Council formed last fall. This was a summer-long art display (from June 14th – September 21st). Fifty local artists produced the works with weather resistant acrylic paints, which were then fashioned to appear as windows and placed in decorative frames, these frames in turn were attached to a false façade positioned to abut an existing buildings side wall and adjacent to off-street parking. The art work brought new visitors and tourists into the downtown. A gala auction on October 4, raised $7200 which was split between participating organizations.
Downtown revitalization happens when the whole community collaborates.
Tour Findlay – Hancock Regional Planning
Certainly several communities have downtown walking tours, but when a community such as Findlay hosts an event like this, which is a watershed moment for turning the corner towards a brighter future, it deserves recognition. On October 17th over 400 people came to downtown Findlay to tour 5 historic buildings along Main Street, following the tour a reception was held at the historic Elk’s lodge featuring the catering expertise of half a dozen local restaurateurs. The event raised $3000. Bouncing back from the devastating flood of the fall before, the public needed to see and experience that life in downtown had returned in full swing. Collaborating within the community has been a spring board for Findlay that we hope will be the entrée to a new Main Street community.
Spirit of Main Street sponsored by Beckett and Raeder
Bob Garvin – Canal Winchester
Bob Garvin has been a driving force with the Main Street Canal Winchester program since 2001. Pushing beyond their work plan, Bob has seen that the stakeholders in the region are well aware of Canal Winchester’s Main Street programs mission, goals and successes. His leadership has continued to engage new volunteers and the city leadership so that their program is instrumental to the success of all planning in the community.
Main Street Manager of the Year sponsored by Poggemeyer Design Group
Lorna Swisher – Piqua
It is such a pleasure to recognize Lorna, for all she does not only for the Piqua community, but for her contributions to the statewide Main Street Program as well. (Lorna served as the first “chair” of the Main Street Managers’ Advisory Committee, which brought her to the Heritage Ohio Board of Trustees as the representative of the Main Street Managers.) Lorna became the Executive Director of Main Street Piqua in 1997. She continues to be a motivating force with her many committees, and the building and business owners in Piqua. She has brought hundreds of thousands of grant dollars to the community. As we have celebrated the Ft. Piqua Hotel today we know that Lorna also plays a leadership role in making Piqua’ downtown a more dynamic place each year.
Preservation Hero sponsored by Vorys, Sater,Seymour and Pease, LLP
Ruth Parker – Sandusky
Ruth Frost Parker is not just a Sandusky hero but an Ohio hero, for the portfolio of rehabilitation work she has completed.
Beginning more than 25 years ago and continuing today she is undaunted by what others think when a building has supposedly completed its usefulness. When the Post Office was vacated, she envisioned the space could be re-invented to house the Marry-go-Round Museum. She and her late husband Bill‘s first project now houses the Sandusky Main Street Association. An empty department store now houses county offices. Buildings in downtown Sandusky and along the waterfront now have new purposes as boutiques, offices and market rate housing, providing a new liveliness for Sandusky based on its former grandeur. Fortunately for all of us she is still at work seeking new solutions for historic schools, houses and storefronts. Certainly we look forward to Ruth’s future projects being submitted for historic rehabilitation awards in the years to come.
[...] Heritage Ohio Award Winners [...]