An Ironton building is on a list of top statewide preservation opportunities.

The Marlow building, located at South Third Street and Park Avenue, has been named to Heritage Ohio’s Top Preservation Opportunities List for 2010.

The list is a partnership with a variety of volunteers to provide technical support to communities in prioritizing rehabilitation work, finding appropriate adaptive reuse options or understanding how historic assets contribute to the economic vitality of the community.

Ironton resident Tim Gearhart owns the building, which was built in 1920 and was formerly used as a theater. Gearhart described the building as solid as a rock but in need of some electrical work.

“It’s a fascinating place,” Gearhart said. “You can still see a lot of the theater’s ornate works of plaster or whatever it was made of.”

The building is currently being used for office space. Two of the building’s five business spaces are being used. Above the building’s main floor is an open space.

The building also has a basement that was used as a bomb shelter during the Cold War, Gearhart said.

“There are still kegs of water and kegs of crackers,” Gearhart said. “There were some medical supplies there.”

The Lawrence County Community Action Organization has expressed interest in purchasing the building to use as an assisted-living facility, Gearhart said.

The building is included on the National Register of Historic Places.