ThisWeek CW 11/5/2015
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/11/02/donations-will-furnish-renovated-interurban-building.html
Canal Winchester officials say the time has finally arrived for the renewal of the historic Interurban building, and thanks to several donations, period-appropriate, handcrafted Amish furnishings will grace the interior.
Destination: Canal Winchester Executive Director Bruce Jarvis asked Canal Winchester City Council Oct. 19 to approve the acceptance of about $10,000 worth of donations of new, Amish-built furniture, framed historical artwork and protective tabletop glass for some pieces.
Jarvis said the only contingency with the donations is that the space be made available to the public when not being used by the city. Council voted unanimously to accept the donations, agreeing to formalize an agreement similar to the rental of the community center space prior to the opening of the newly renovated building.
“In May of this year, one of my board members suggested we apply to South Central Power for a grant to get the furniture and the art paid for,” Jarvis said. “I wasn’t very hopeful, as this was the fourth time we’ve gone for one of their grants and we hadn’t been awarded before now.
“We’d gone out and gotten a quote for the furniture for $7,500 and asked for $10,000 to cover both the furniture and the art; and South Central Power awarded us $5,000,” he said.
Jarvis said donations of $2,500 each from the Wiser family and the Bob Wood Foundation made up the remaining balance. He anticipated an additional $2,000 for the protective table glass would come from the Destination: Canal Winchester board itself.
The building, which once served as a station on the interurban rail line, was previously owned by South Central Power, which used it as a warehouse before selling it to the city in 2003. Over the years, the city has stabilized the building, investing in a new roof, updating the utilities and improving the structure’s exterior appearance.
Earlier this year, council approved a city staff request to seek a contract to design meeting facilities inside the building and renovate the space. According to City Construction Manager Bill Sims, his staff expects to bid out the project before the end of the year, with the work being completed in early spring.
Mayor Mike Ebert expressed some concern over the investment in hand-built, craftsman furniture — not because of how it will look but because it will limit some use of the space and may attract vandalism.
“This is beautiful furniture, and it is expensive, heavy, well-built furniture; but my concern is that we put it in here and then we get into moving it in and out of the space, getting it torn up or have people intentionally abusing it,” Ebert said.
Council members agreed that while folding tables and chairs would provide greater flexibility, they believed the space, which has the capacity to hold almost 50 people, should be a “show piece.”
“This is a historic building that we should use this nice furniture in to keep the historic feel of it,” Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon said.
Officials anticipate awarding a renovation contract in December and opening the renovated building in April.