Article published August 26, 2009 3-0 vote saves Seneca County Courthouse; $7.49 million restoration planned
Mary McCall applauds and Rayella Engle, right, is congratulated after the Seneca County commissioners
voted to restore their courthouse.
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TIFFIN — After repeatedly voting to tear down and replace the 1884 Seneca County Courthouse, county Commissioners Ben Nutter and Dave Sauber reversed their stance Tuesday, saying a courthouse redevelopment group came in with the right plan at the right price.
The two commissioners, along with fellow Commissioner Mike Bridinger, who has long supported restoring the historic courthouse, voted unanimously in favor of a resolution supporting the $7.49 million restoration project.
“I would like to thank the [development group] for the time, effort, energy, and money that was put forth to come up with the proposal that will save several million dollars for the local taxpayers and all the while maintain a statewide and really nationally significant historical monument,” Mr. Nutter said before commissioners voted.
Franklin Conaway jumped from his seat after the vote and delivered a sincere “thank you” as he shook the hands of the commissioners.
After working for more than a year on a plan to preserve the county’s courthouse and breathe new life into downtown
Commissioners vote to save courthouse
Tiffin, Mr. Conaway was happily relieved to hear all three commissioners throw their support behind restoring the vacant courthouse.
“It’s the gun going off. We’re on our way now,” Mr. Conaway, head of the Seneca County Courthouse and Downtown Redevelopment Group, said after the meeting.
The resolution states that the board’s support is “contingent only upon obtaining the necessary financing to undertake the project,” a task that must be completed by Oct. 30, 2010.
The clock tower at left is to be removed and restored as 19th-century architect Elijah E. Myers designed. The sketch at right depicts the courthouse as it will look once the project is fi nished.
The news was hailed from the county seat to the Statehouse and beyond. The courthouse, designed by noted 19th Century American architect Elijah E. Myers, was listed as the most endangered historic structure in Ohio.
“We’re thrilled to hear this news because in some ways, we’re not hearing a whole bunch about courthouses being threatened these days. A lot of those battles occurred in the late ’70s and early ’80s,” said Royce Yeater, director of the Midwest office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“For the most part, courthouses are highly prized because they are important structures in those communities,” he said. “They represented, in the settlement era, a very important point of arrival.”
Valerie Marvin, who works with the Michigan State Capitol tour service, has followed the debate over the courthouse, which, like the Michigan Capitol, was designed by Myers.
“We are elated with the commissioners’ decision to restore the Seneca County Courthouse,” she said.
Commissioner David Sauber, foreground, emphasizes his support of renovation. Commissioners Ben Nutter, center, and Mike Bridinger joined him to vote in favor.
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“It is wonderful to know that in 2009, one hundred years after Elijah E. Myers’ death, his work is still valued and appreciated in Seneca County.”
‘Great news’ Allison Kolodziej, spokesman for Gov. Ted Strickland, called the commissioners’ vote “great news.”
“The governor commends the commissioners for deciding to restore the courthouse,” she said. “He believes that protecting this historic building will spur development in downtown Tiffin and in the surrounding community.”
Mr. Bridinger questioned wording in Mr. Nutter’s resolution that stated Mr. Strickland had committed to supporting the renovation project with $2 million. The development group’s financing proposal includes only a $500,000 contribution from the state.
Mr. Nutter replied that the governor first committed $2 million in support in March, 2008, when the county had an $8.5 million bond issue on the ballot that would have been used to renovate the courthouse.
Even though the ballot issue failed, Mr. Nutter said, the governor’s office continued to pledge its support for the project.
Brenda Stultz embraces Franklin Conaway of the Seneca
County Courthouse and Redevelopment Group.
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“The governor himself has said on several occasions that they would support the project in the amount of $2 million,” Mr. Nutter said.
“If for some reason that changes, we certainly have to re-evaluate the situation at that time, as we have from the beginning,” he added.
Mr. Nutter said he has spoken with the governor’s office within the last few weeks and feels confident that the state will come up with the extra funding, which will reduce the $5 million share the county needs to borrow for the project.
Ms. Kolodziej said the state has committed $400,000 in community development block grant funds. It also has approved $2 million in historic tax credits for the project, although the courthouse would have to be transferred to a private owner who could take advantage of tax credits.
Capital campaign Mr. Conaway, for his part, told commissioners that plans are moving ahead for a capital campaign to raise $1.45 million to restore the clock tower and other architectural features of the Beaux Arts-style courthouse.
“I think we will exceed the minimum amount we’re committed to raise. We will bring in more than $1,450,000 for this project,” Mr. Conaway said.
He also is excited about the trickle-down effect of the courthouse project. He said as many as seven more downtown building projects could result from the courthouse’s restoration.
He told commissioners two or three of those projects could begin yet this year.
“Nobody’s going to wait for the courthouse to be restored before these other projects get under way,” Mr. Conaway said. “As soon as you make the announcement that you’re going to move forward with this project, those projects will also get under way. I think one of them we’ll see finished within four to five months.”
State and national preservation officials agree that saving the courthouse will be a catalyst for downtown redevelopment.
“This is where the county shows leadership in investing in historic properties, and that’s a lesson that’s not lost on the merchants,” said Franco Ruffini, deputy state historic preservation officer, who attended yesterday’s meeting.
Preservationists also say the project will send an important message to other counties considering the fates of their aging courthouses.
“I know of counties that have been looking at Seneca and what will happen, and everyone in the preservation community has been waiting with bated breath to see what would happen,” said Thomas Palmer, executive director of Preservation Ohio.
“These are real issues. What the county commissioners are dealing with is a real issue of offering county services at reasonable costs.”
Mr. Conaway commended commissioners and other community leaders for being willing to listen to new information and change their minds.
He said that’s a great example for other communities.
Decision called key “I really think that Tiffin and Seneca County have a bright future because they’re learning that their built environment is a very special resource that holds the key to a vibrant new future,” Mr. Conaway said.
“If we lose this resource anywhere in this country, then that community simply does not have a future,” he added.
Theresa Sullivan, president of the Tiffin Historic Trust, which has led the fight locally to save the courthouse, said she was ecstatic.
“It’s a great day for Tiffin and Seneca County,” she said.
“Hats off to the commissioners for giving Franklin and his group the opportunity to see this project through,” Ms. Sullivan added.
For Rayella Engle, one of the group of Tiffin preservationists which has worked the longest and hardest to save the courthouse that is the center of their community, yesterday’s vote was such a relief, and came on, of all days, her birthday.
“It’s the best birthday present I’ve ever got,” she said after the vote.
Contact Jennifer Feehan at:jfeehan@theblade.comor 419-724-6129. Permanent Link
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