Laserfiche WebLink
with a whole different proposal and it's weaker and weaker. The money is not an issue yet. The first <br />issue is does the city back this. If so, get the energy flowing. Mr. Barker said the commission shares <br />Mr. Yager's concerns and thoughts but they keep falling between a rock and a hard place. He indicated <br />that the Mayor said on November 12th because of financial conditions he finds it would be difficult to <br />redirect funds. A letter from the Building Commissioner said the acceptance of this building should be <br />seriously weighed because of the financial conditions of the city. He said Mr. Lang had a meeting with <br />the Mayor and the Mayor seems to be in favor. He added that the commission asked for a meeting with <br />the Finance Committee, and they seem to have the sympathy of Council, seem to have support from <br />most of Council, but again the bottom line was how much money is it going to cost and should they be <br />pouring money into the building. He said Mr. Lang has talked to more people this week and gotten <br />more quotes. What they originally thought would cost $30-50,000 is now leaning toward $100,000, for <br />moving and reinstalling. NIr. Yager said they need to go to Halleen and say this is what the city wants. <br />Mrs. Lord pointed out they already denied the demolition permit. Mr. Barker said the way their chapter <br />is set up, they can deny and it only gives them a moratorium of six months. Basically, the owner can do <br />whatever he wants. Mr. Yager asked on what application it was denied. Mr. Lang said the application <br />specifically requests permission to demolish a building on permanent parcel 232-10-059. No <br />explanation needs to be given to the commission regarding future use for the site. Mr. Barker said <br />Halleen's answer was it will be returned to its natural state. Mrs. VanAuken said the board can say no <br />but they don't have the teeth to keep someone from doing something like this. They can only go by <br />moral persuasion. She talked to a group of third graders recently about the history of North Olmsted. <br />They had a slide of that building with a man standing there with a horse and wagon, delivering the mail. <br />The teacher asked what will be done with the building and she was sad to learn nothing can be done <br />about it. Mrs. VanAuken said it seems to lack somebody with fire in their eyes saying, "we can't let this <br />go, and someone who can get the community thinking about ways to save it. Mrs. Davis said the same <br />teacher had mentioned that her husband has been active in something in Lorain County and they got <br />funds of some kind. Mr. Lang asked Mrs. Davis if she knew how long it took to get those funds. Mrs. <br />Davis said she does not know. Mr. Lang said a few months back Mr. Dailey mentioned a house on <br />Broadview and Snow Rd. that was being threatened with demolition. The Ohio Historical Society <br />brought that up as an example of something that could be done. It took two and a half years to come up <br />with the money to inove the house to a safe location. He said the board is kind of hamstrung because <br />unless there is a legal hold that goes beyond a limited period of time to buy time to come up with the <br />funds, grants take up to a year and a half, and North Olmsted is not eligible for many grants, especially <br />historical, because it is not a CLG. He said they would only be eligible for foundation type grants. <br />Mrs. Lord said they have met with Mr. Halleen numerous times and he is well aware the commission <br />does not want the building knocked down. The board has offered many suggestions for the use of the <br />building and there is no discussion. Mr. Barker said they feel that February 12th the wrecking ball will <br />be there. Mrs. Lord said that Mr. Halleen has said he has someone interested in buying it. Mr. Lang <br />said he is hoping to know by the end of the week exactly how feasible the move is and what the cost <br />estimate would be for the move. A foundation will vary between a crawl space at $5,000 and a full <br />basement of $10,000. A new furnace will cost $4,000 if put on a slab, including new duct work which <br />could be dainaged during the move. Mr. Yager said he is not here to suggest they move the building. <br />He is here to suggest keeping it. Moving it costs money and moving it takes it away from its natural <br />state. He thinks the energy should be put toward keeping it where it is. If this commission can't achieve <br />something like that, what's the basis of the commission? Someone has to get behind the emotional ball. <br />Clearly, everybody in the city says they don't want to spend the money on it. That is different than <br />emotion. It has to happen in January if the wrecking ball can come in February. He said they should go <br />to Council and see if some kind of vote can be put up where the city has a say in it. It is a city building <br />first and foremost. It is visually and historically a part of the city. Mr. O'Malley said it may be possible <br />to extend the six month moratorium. There could be further review. He mentioned the situation in <br />Lakewood and said when does the government use its authority to take land. The issue is would the six <br />month moratorium be extended and beyond that, then what. It might give the city more time to seek the <br />4