At about 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 11, the building that was once known as City Hall came tumbling down. The old City Hall is located on the City Green at the intersection of Rt 82, Bennett and Ridge Roads. The building was vacated in 2014, when the city’s administration moved to the old library building on State Road.
Prior to the demolition, asbestos abatement on the structure took place, at a cost of about $24,000. The city estimated the cost of demolition to be about $200,000. It is being funded through the city’s Future Capital Improvement Fund. The cornerstone and cupola were removed prior to the demolition to be used in some way in the future. When asked if anything of historical significance was found in the building, Mayor Bob Stefanik responded that was left were Royalton Recorders, dating back to the 1970s.
The decision to demolish the old City Hall was made by City Council at its March 21 Council meeting. “I’m definitely not happy about this,” said Mayor Bob Stefanik. He said that the city had sought funding to rehabilitate the building, but there were no grants to be had. “I’d be the first to refurbish the original section,” said Stefanik, “but it’s just not cost effective.” Estimates to preserve the building were well over $2 million. “It would have been nice if funding was put aside to maintain the building, but they didn’t,” said Stefanik of previous administrations. “It was just like the cemetery and other buildings.” He noted that since 2008, under his administration, funding has been put aside for that very purpose – to maintain what the city has.”
The City Green has gone through a series of changes since the inception of Royalton Township, which was established in 1818. The area was the home of the North Royalton Baptist Church, which was razed in 1929, a grocery store, a cemetery and a City Hall. All of those buildings were then razed, including the original City Hall, built in 1870 and also served as a school building. The present City Hall on the City Green was then built in 1947. Two wings were eventually added and the building once housed both the fire and police departments. The fire department moved to its Rt. 82 location in the 1980s and the police department in the 1990s. The building, although continuing to house city administration, was never updated. According to Stefanik, the building suffers from water problems, asbestos and foundation issues. Apparently, the second City Hall was built on the foundation of the original building, and was collapsing.
“The City has appointed Brandstetter Carroll, Incorporated as the architect to look at concepts to replace the old City Hall that are more recreationally-oriented,” according to Community Development Director Tom Jordan. Brandstetter Carroll is not new to North Royalton. They were the architect that designed the new City Hall, and were also involved in the North Royalton YMCA project. Some design concepts have been shared with Council, but a formal plan has not been approved. Jordan said that he looks to have a plan formalized in the next few months.
Stefanik said he hopes to have the pavilion built in time for the city’s bicentennial celebration, which is scheduled for August, 2018.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer