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Council kills lumberyard project
(by Andrea Cordle, Southwest Editor - February 03, 2010)
After years of planning, the city of Grove City decided to drop the lumberyard project.
At the Feb. 1 meeting, Grove City Council unanimously approved a resolution to terminate the lumberyard project and encourage alternate development on the site.
Mayor Richard "Ike" Stage explained the project was pulled due to the tough economic times and a slew of uncertainties.
In 2005, the city began discussing the development of the parcel of land, which sits adjacent to City Hall. The following year, the city selected The Stonehenge Company as the developer.
Stage said Stonehenge was "released of responsibility" and he publicly apologized to Mo Dioun, project developer, for the manner in which he found out about the termination.
Dioun was present for a special Town Center meeting in late January, where the presenter, Frank Elmer, said he was told the lumberyard project was dead. Stage said prior to the meeting, he spoke with four council members in a private setting about terminating the project. He said one of the council members must have leaked that information to Elmer, who announced it in a public setting.
"I was embarrassed," said Stage.
Stage also explained the project faced numerous setbacks. He said the Grove City Library was supposed to relocate into a new state-of-the-art facility in the lumberyard development. After months of negotiations, council said no to the library board's demands.
"That made the project different," said Stage.
Then, this past August, the city downsized the project by at least $5 million due to the failed school levy and a possible expansion at Beulah Park for video slot machines.
The city had passed zoning regulations to construct a three-story parking structure.
Now, the city says it is apparent the project is not feasible in the current state of the economy.
After Stage was finished with his presentation, Councilman Steven Bennett said he thought the mayor's speech was "skewed." Council President Ted Berry said he agreed.
According to Chuck Boso, the city's development director, the city has spent $724,000 on the lumberyard project. That total does not include land acquisition costs.
Boso explained the funds were used for architectural designs, engineering studies, administration fees to Stonehenge, a library facilitator, legal fees and a parking study. He said about 62 percent of the funds could still be used for future development.
One aspect of the lumberyard project was the Center of Learning, where several colleges were to share space as satellite campuses.
Don Walters, with the community relations office, said the city will proceed with the Center of Learning despite the termination of the lumberyard project. He explained the schools would be housed in a temporary location until the city finds a permanent location.
"We hope that will be in the Town Center," said Walters.
The temporary facility should be open this fall. So far the city has received six letters of intent from schools such as Ashland University, Columbus State Community College,
The Ohio State University Extensions and University of Toledo. They expect the satellite campus to bring in 3,000 students and professional jobs.
"We will make sure it has a permanent home in Grove City," said Walters.
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