ThisWeek CW 06-18-2015
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/06/15/city-donates-land-group-hopes-to-move-canal-era-building-to-wirt-road.html
Groveport City Council approved necessary zoning changes June 8 before donating city-owned property to the Groveport Heritage and Preservation Society for the relocation of an abandoned canal-era building.
Council voted unanimously to approve ordinances granting the society variances from the current residential use zoning for two parcels at 536 Wirt Road. Members then agreed to give the parcels to the society and approved changes regarding setbacks, parking and landscaping issues to make way for the possible move of a low brick commercial building constructed in the 1800s for the Ohio and Erie Canal.
A new warehouse development at the corner of Rohr and Pontius roads, approved Feb. 23, will be the end of the historic Sharps Landing property; however, a last-minute deal between the developer and the preservation society may have saved this one building.
Groveport City Administrator Marsha Hall said the society intends to disassemble the building, brick by brick, then reassemble it on Wirt Road across from Heritage Park and the historic log cabin.
The building would be landscaped in period style with visitors able to peer in the windows while listening to a pre-recorded history of the canal and the activity the building supported.
During negotiations, the preservation group secured up to $200,000 from the developers of the site at Rohr and Pontius roads for the purpose of moving the canal building.
Resident Carolyn Stuah told council she is concerned about the impact the building could have on her view of the park and log cabin. No other residents spoke either in favor or against the project.
Heritage and Preservation Society President Carla Cramer initially said the project would cost close to $325,000, based on estimates provided by architect Fred Hutchinson, who was retained by the group for the project.
“During the 1800s, this property was owned by the Sharp family and the building, which is divided into three sections, operated a bakery, a smokehouse and an ice house,” Cramer said. “Our intent is to make every effort to relocate this building … and we think we can disassemble it with this money.
“We’ll then need to solicit funds for our dream to rebuild it exactly as it was to preserve it as a museum and share what life was like on the canal,” she said.