Yes or No?
Published 9:19am Thursday, January 26, 2012More viewpoints sought on feasibility of saving Memorial Hall
A third set of expert eyes is wanted before the county commissioners make a decision on the fate of Memorial Hall.
Last week the commissioners said they were considering preserving the 19th Century downtown Ironton building to turn it into the headquarters for the county’s emergency services. Right now the city owns the historic structure that was abandoned decades ago after serving as Ironton City Hall and its jail.
A possible use for the building would be to house the consolidation of the county’s emergency operations, including the 911 dispatchers, the emergency medical service and the emergency management agency administrative officers and a newly established office for the county coroner.
The sandstone and brick structure built in 1892 as a tribute to the Grand Republic Army has been the center of controversy with supporters wanting to renovate the building and others saying it should be torn down.
In June E.L. Robinson, the city’s engineering consultants, recommended that Memorial Hall be demolished because the firm estimated the cost of restoration to be almost $8 million. To raze it would cost about $250,000, according to the Robinson report.
However, the commissioners said after calling in Shawn Walker and Associates, an Ashland, Ky.-based architectural firm, that there is about a two-year window where restoration would be possible. Cost for that could possibly only be about $3 million.
If the county did turn it into an emergency operations center, only the exterior shell would be used.
“I am not a specialist on buildings, not an architect or a contractor,” Commission President Les Boggs said. … Someone says it needs to be torn down. Others say it can be salvaged.”
Boggs wants to call in an expert immediately to offer a third opinion on the building.
“I am not going to make an emotional decision, but one based on practicality and what is good for the taxpayers,” Boggs said. “I would like to make the decision within the next two weeks.”
Commissioner Bill Pratt is also asking for a local demolition contractor to look at the building to see if the interior could be gutted.
“I would like to explore the options and get an opinion from people who have experience in the construction trade,” he said. “I like the idea of (preserving it). It is good to try to save those old buildings, but sometimes they have got in the condition where that is no longer possible. We are on the line on to preserve or it would be impossible to preserve. I think it may have gone too far, but let the experts decide.”
Poor Richard–Well said.
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Preservation of historic buildings involves maintaining the integrity of the community or place through protection and restoration using both old building materials and new. The preservation process may involve several stages which may or may not include rehabilitation, restoration and reinforcement.
One of the many reasons historic buildings must be preserved is the character they bring to a community where they were built. Buildings and spaces with history have character. They bring a certain charm that new buildings don’t. Does the CVS Pharmacy building have charm? What about the Advanced Auto Parts building — any charm or character there? Any heritage? When visitors drive through the city does the Rite Aid Pharmacy building depict the culture or heritage of Ironton? Do visitors stop to take photographs of the Pharmacy building? Cultural heritage is identified in the architecture, landscapes, monuments, people, food, cemeteries and much more of a place. Historic buildings, like land, are a non-renewable resource.
Many old buildings created in the 19th century are spectacularly beautiful. Look at our county courthouse (which isn’t cared for very well either). When people understand what the community has gone through and have visual reminders of their past then they can feel more connected to a place. These buildings, like Memorial Hall, are a monument of past artistic achievements and the expression of continuing tradition and creativity representing a valuable store of knowledge and treasure. I hardly think of a metal pole building as an artistic achievement.
If historic buildings and old towns of the past are not important, then why are some of the most sought after new developments in the country those who replicate historic buildings?
Funds? That’s the easy part; they come from the people, from donations, from industry, from the city, from the county, from grants, from the state, from the feds, from the preservation community, etc,etc. Yes, it might require a little effort, a little more work than usual, but isn’t it worth it?
The bottom line is this – how a people preserve and cherish their heritage speaks VOLUMES of their character and respect for past generations.
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The more rhetoric spouted about Memorial Hall, the more mind boggling I find the idea of restoration in the confines of the current economy. Robinson guesses $8 million, Walker guesses $3 million, which are 32 and 12 times, respectively, over the cost of razing the building to the ground. The county commissioners could consolidate and accommodate emergency services and the coroner with a new steel building (50x100x16) for $30 thousand dollars, plus associated completion costs, or a prefab building with an 8 feet ceiling and finished interior for which they specify the size, location of windows and doors, and roof pitch at a cost range of $35-$100 (typically $50-$65)per square foot, or estimated cost between $250 thousand and $325 thousand dollars, an amount equal to or slightly over the $250 thousand dollars cost of razing the building in comparison to restoration costs. Where is the question of what should be done with Memorial Hall?
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I would like to hear what commissioner Paul Herrell has to say about this.
It seem’s that he never has any comment’s concerning what is happening at the commissioners meeting’s.
He is after all one of three of our county commissioners.
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I would still like to know where the County Commissioners have any money to spend on this building? Did they not report just a couple weeks ago that every office holders budget was cut for lack of funds?
All these millions of dollars could be used to put people back to work at the Jobs and Family Services and other places.
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The best experts would be the ones that coordinated the contractors and engineers on other jobs and the one footing the bill.
Ironton/Russel bridge is a good example of going back to the drawing board.
I appreciate everyones efforts.
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