Canal Winchester Messenger - April 3rd, 2022

PAGE 8 - MESSENGER - April 3, 2022
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Continued from page 1
As visitors toured the new municipal
complex on March 28, members of Quilters
on the Canal were already at work sewing
and cutting in the new community center
space.
“It is a beautiful space,” said quilter and
group organizer Joyce Barrett. “There’s a lot
of light. We’ve been over there at the old
center for 16 years and it became home to
us. We did our shows there and had our
equipment there.”
Barrett said her group is growing and,
after spending time with fellow quilters, she
is confident the new community center will
meet their needs.
There are still a few loose ends to finish
in the new City Hall, such as installing
video equipment in the new council chambers,
demolishing the former community
center to expand parking, and finishing
overflow space in the building’s east end.
History of the building
One hundred and sixty five years ago,
John Helpman opened a lumberyard and
sold it in 1883 to George Bareis, who operated
it for 50 years before passing the baton
to the Cellar Lumber Company. The company
closed the local operation in 1988 and
it re-opened as the Davis Paint Company
before closing for good in 2005.
In 1884, the complex was destroyed by
fire, but later rebuilt. The same fate again
destroyed the then-vacant site in the early
morning hours of Dec. 8, 2012. Charred
Messenger photos by Linda Dillman
City staffers and residents get a look at
the lobby area of the new City Hall, which
also houses the community center.
remnants of the former lumberyard were
scattered across the complex following the
total destruction of the biggest building on
site. Firefighters from five different departments
battled the early morning blaze.
In March 2013, car dealer Bob McDorman
released his vision for the site with a
concept plan for the 22,500 square-foot $1.5
million auto museum, which opened in
2014. It housed part of McDorman’s auto
collection–comprised mainly of Corvettes–
and car-related memorabilia. His dream of
housing his car and memorabilia collection
in a downtown museum did not last. McDorman
passed away in May 2015 and at the
end of 2016 the family closed the museum.
Discussions ensued between the city and
the McDorman family, who entered into an
owner-financed $2.4 million agreement with
Canal Winchester after city council authorized
the purchase on Jan. 21, 2020.
A contract with Ferguson Construction
company was approved by council in April
2020 to renovate the building for approximately
$4.06 million, including $3.66 million
for work, $129,885 in design fees and
$269,187 in general condition costs.
What was expected to take six months,
took two years to bring to fruition amid
COVID restrictions, supply chain issues and
other factors. Existing mechanical, electrical
and plumbing systems were not salvageable
and were replaced, including the
heating and cooling system.
In addition to city offices and a new meeting
space for city council with overflow room
when necessary, the new City Hall also
houses the senior center in the west wing of
the building and leasable space in its east
wing. Parking was also increased.
www.columbusmessenger.com
Mayor Mike Ebert standing at the door
of his new office in the new City Hall
building.
DestinationOutlets.com
800-213-9083
Joyce Barrett, Councilman Patrick Shea, and Jackie Whitehead examine a quilt in the
community center that is part of the new City Hall.
8000 Factory Shops Blvd.
Jeffersonville, OH 43128
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CW City Council meetings
Canal Winchester City Council meetings
are held on the first and third Monday of
every month. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. The
meetings are open to the public.
CW school board meetings
The Canal Winchester Board of Education
meets on the third Monday of each
month at 7 p.m. in the Canal Winchester
Education Center, 100 Washington St. on
the second floor in room 204/206.