City has new option for old fire house
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The city of Hillsboro may now have multiple options for the future of the former fire house. Hillsboro City Council must now decide if the proposal of a non-profit preservation group or the plans of a private business venture will best serve the city of Hillsboro.
During a joint meeting of council's finance and property maintenance and restoration committees, area residents Drew Hastings, who owns multiple structures in uptown Hillsboro, including the Bells Opera House and the old Fifth-Third Bank building, and Steve Penker, addressed council on possibly purchasing the old fire station on North High Street with the intent of opening a restaurant.
Christina Ross of the Highland Community Preservation Group, who has previously presented a proposal to the committees on using grant dollars, with an investment from the city, to open a farmer's market in the structure, as well as leasing out additional space. The proposal included a deli-style restaurant.
"I have been very interested and engaged currently in trying to do stuff for revitalization uptown," Hastings said. "It's something I would like to see done. I have put a lot of time money and effort into it, and I'm putting a lot more in the future. Regarding the firehouse ... I want to let you know that both myself and (Penker) and the group that we have is committed to putting a restaurant uptown. That is our goal. We would like to acquire this building. We're offering to pay for it. We obviously would like to purchase this building, get it closed pretty quickly, and we would like to get it as cheaply as possible, because we're trying to keep it as cheap as possible to move a restaurant in there."
Hastings said the restaurant operators would be open to the idea of incorporating a farmer's market "in concert" with the restaurant.
Committee members noted that the building, appraised at $110,000, must be sold for at least two-thirds of the appraised value.
"It has to be at least two-thirds, but it doesn't mean you have to accept two-thirds," said Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt. "It depends on what the city will ask for it."
Finance committee chairperson Peter Pence told Ross that since the committees last spoke with the preservation group, council was informed by the city auditor that Hillsboro is facing a deficit of more than $400,000 by 2011.
"Bottom line, I think we're going to have to try to get some money for it," Pence said.
"I totally agree," said property maintenance and restoration committee chairperson Bonnie Parr.
Ross, Hastings and Penker said that the two groups have not spoken about their respective ventures with each other, but agreed that some of their goals are similar.
Penker and Hastings asked permission from the city to gain entry to the building this week to look at what might need to be done, though Hastings said he has twice previously been in the building.
"I know it needs work," Hastings said. "I believe that a good half of that building does need torn down, but I believe the front part of that building is salvageable. I don't want to see another hole, another gap-tooth right in the middle of uptown. That's a big negative."
Ross said she wants the city to give the preservation group a fair chance.
Ross told the committee that it was the group's understanding that following an April 1 committee meeting, council members would consult with the law director and then advise the group on if they could proceed. Ross said that in the meantime, the group has worked on the further development of the "Hillsboro Marketplace Project."
"We have not been sitting idle," she said. "We have been working diligently on this trying to make it a reality for our cornerstone building on our courthouse square. We definitely don't want this to be a fly-by-night operation and we are willing to team up with anybody. We also feel the farmer's market is a key component to downtown. Farmer's markets don't bring big money, but what they do is bring tourism and people to shop downtown."
Ross said she felt the deli-style restaurant that has been proposed for the building by the preservation group - in which a proprietor is showing interest, as well as an additional lessee - is more in tune with what the people of Hillsboro would like to see.
Ross said she has spoken to people in town and "They're saying, 'Hillsboro people don't go for high-class restaurants. We'd like to see one too but people like home cooking.' They like deli-style quick lunches. Our downtown is filled with lunchtime people. Even though a nice Italian restaurant would be nice to go to, that probably won't happen. That probably won't be vibrant in our community.
"If you guys are not interested or are unable to partner with us or donate to this project, we understand that," Ross said. "We just need an answer, we need a direction, and would like to be considered in any bids that you put out there."
The committee said they would consider each group's proposal.
"You are being considered," Pence said. "But what has happened since the last time you were here, there have been some pretty serious projections of a budget shortfall for next year. That kind of changes what you can and can't do. Obviously if you hold a weak financial position, your hands are kind of tied and you've got to do what you've got to do to keep people employed. We have to look at it a little bit differently than we thought we might. I think we all knew that next year would be a tough budget yea,r but if what the auditor is saying is correct, there are going to be some real hard decisions that are going to have to be made over the coming months."
Ross said that she understood the city's tough budget situation, but asked that council make everything public knowledge and be fair about making their decision. The preservation group, she said, is speaking with financial institutions, and other cities that have developed preservation projects, and they believe there are many opportunities for grants.
"It's a long-term project," Ross said. "You can just dump the building and wipe your hands of it and get your (less than $110,000) or you can make this a really good project."
Hastings said that his project would be funded through "private venture capital" and "it's not a matter of seeking grants or loans. I don't think it's a matter of selling this building and dumping it off and letting it being off the city's shoulders as (Ross) indicated. I have a very vested interest in uptown being improved. Not just from a real estate standpoint. I would like to see this town come back. I am a firm believer it's not going to happen without people getting together and, for the most part, privately funding it. We are not looking in any way, shape or form at this building sitting vacant for a long-term period. If we're going to get involved with it, it's something that's going to happen."
Council member Bill Alexander said that both groups have great ideas for the city and it is positive that the city has two great options to consider. Alexander said there may be opportunities for the two groups to work together, and they agreed.
Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink asked why, with so many empty buildings in Hillsboro, why the old fire station was the one they wanted. Both groups said it is the great location at the center of town, which has a great effect on how the city is perceived. Additionally, the open inner structure of the building can give developers lots of options, they said.
The committee voted to table the decision until after the finance committee can meet to discuss the pending deficit, so they might be in a better-informed position to make a decision. Several council members, however, voiced that selling the building may be a good option.
"From a liability standpoint," said council president Lee Koogler, "the best option is to sell the thing."[[In-content Ad]]
During a joint meeting of council's finance and property maintenance and restoration committees, area residents Drew Hastings, who owns multiple structures in uptown Hillsboro, including the Bells Opera House and the old Fifth-Third Bank building, and Steve Penker, addressed council on possibly purchasing the old fire station on North High Street with the intent of opening a restaurant.
Christina Ross of the Highland Community Preservation Group, who has previously presented a proposal to the committees on using grant dollars, with an investment from the city, to open a farmer's market in the structure, as well as leasing out additional space. The proposal included a deli-style restaurant.
"I have been very interested and engaged currently in trying to do stuff for revitalization uptown," Hastings said. "It's something I would like to see done. I have put a lot of time money and effort into it, and I'm putting a lot more in the future. Regarding the firehouse ... I want to let you know that both myself and (Penker) and the group that we have is committed to putting a restaurant uptown. That is our goal. We would like to acquire this building. We're offering to pay for it. We obviously would like to purchase this building, get it closed pretty quickly, and we would like to get it as cheaply as possible, because we're trying to keep it as cheap as possible to move a restaurant in there."
Hastings said the restaurant operators would be open to the idea of incorporating a farmer's market "in concert" with the restaurant.
Committee members noted that the building, appraised at $110,000, must be sold for at least two-thirds of the appraised value.
"It has to be at least two-thirds, but it doesn't mean you have to accept two-thirds," said Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt. "It depends on what the city will ask for it."
Finance committee chairperson Peter Pence told Ross that since the committees last spoke with the preservation group, council was informed by the city auditor that Hillsboro is facing a deficit of more than $400,000 by 2011.
"Bottom line, I think we're going to have to try to get some money for it," Pence said.
"I totally agree," said property maintenance and restoration committee chairperson Bonnie Parr.
Ross, Hastings and Penker said that the two groups have not spoken about their respective ventures with each other, but agreed that some of their goals are similar.
Penker and Hastings asked permission from the city to gain entry to the building this week to look at what might need to be done, though Hastings said he has twice previously been in the building.
"I know it needs work," Hastings said. "I believe that a good half of that building does need torn down, but I believe the front part of that building is salvageable. I don't want to see another hole, another gap-tooth right in the middle of uptown. That's a big negative."
Ross said she wants the city to give the preservation group a fair chance.
Ross told the committee that it was the group's understanding that following an April 1 committee meeting, council members would consult with the law director and then advise the group on if they could proceed. Ross said that in the meantime, the group has worked on the further development of the "Hillsboro Marketplace Project."
"We have not been sitting idle," she said. "We have been working diligently on this trying to make it a reality for our cornerstone building on our courthouse square. We definitely don't want this to be a fly-by-night operation and we are willing to team up with anybody. We also feel the farmer's market is a key component to downtown. Farmer's markets don't bring big money, but what they do is bring tourism and people to shop downtown."
Ross said she felt the deli-style restaurant that has been proposed for the building by the preservation group - in which a proprietor is showing interest, as well as an additional lessee - is more in tune with what the people of Hillsboro would like to see.
Ross said she has spoken to people in town and "They're saying, 'Hillsboro people don't go for high-class restaurants. We'd like to see one too but people like home cooking.' They like deli-style quick lunches. Our downtown is filled with lunchtime people. Even though a nice Italian restaurant would be nice to go to, that probably won't happen. That probably won't be vibrant in our community.
"If you guys are not interested or are unable to partner with us or donate to this project, we understand that," Ross said. "We just need an answer, we need a direction, and would like to be considered in any bids that you put out there."
The committee said they would consider each group's proposal.
"You are being considered," Pence said. "But what has happened since the last time you were here, there have been some pretty serious projections of a budget shortfall for next year. That kind of changes what you can and can't do. Obviously if you hold a weak financial position, your hands are kind of tied and you've got to do what you've got to do to keep people employed. We have to look at it a little bit differently than we thought we might. I think we all knew that next year would be a tough budget yea,r but if what the auditor is saying is correct, there are going to be some real hard decisions that are going to have to be made over the coming months."
Ross said that she understood the city's tough budget situation, but asked that council make everything public knowledge and be fair about making their decision. The preservation group, she said, is speaking with financial institutions, and other cities that have developed preservation projects, and they believe there are many opportunities for grants.
"It's a long-term project," Ross said. "You can just dump the building and wipe your hands of it and get your (less than $110,000) or you can make this a really good project."
Hastings said that his project would be funded through "private venture capital" and "it's not a matter of seeking grants or loans. I don't think it's a matter of selling this building and dumping it off and letting it being off the city's shoulders as (Ross) indicated. I have a very vested interest in uptown being improved. Not just from a real estate standpoint. I would like to see this town come back. I am a firm believer it's not going to happen without people getting together and, for the most part, privately funding it. We are not looking in any way, shape or form at this building sitting vacant for a long-term period. If we're going to get involved with it, it's something that's going to happen."
Council member Bill Alexander said that both groups have great ideas for the city and it is positive that the city has two great options to consider. Alexander said there may be opportunities for the two groups to work together, and they agreed.
Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink asked why, with so many empty buildings in Hillsboro, why the old fire station was the one they wanted. Both groups said it is the great location at the center of town, which has a great effect on how the city is perceived. Additionally, the open inner structure of the building can give developers lots of options, they said.
The committee voted to table the decision until after the finance committee can meet to discuss the pending deficit, so they might be in a better-informed position to make a decision. Several council members, however, voiced that selling the building may be a good option.
"From a liability standpoint," said council president Lee Koogler, "the best option is to sell the thing."[[In-content Ad]]