City leaders are looking to expand the old city hall project, on the City Green, located on Royalton Road between Ridge and Bennett Roads. The building was vacated in 2014, when the city’s administration moved to the old library building on State Road. The old city hall came down on July 11. Administration and City Council members have discussed what to do with the city green, once the decision to demolish was made.
“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. It will be a park-like structure. Discussions have taken place as to whether to incorporate restrooms within the structure, or have them stand alone. “Half of the price will be in the bathrooms,” said Jordan. He estimates that the pavilion alone would cost in excess of $500,000.
“There may be one or two more designs to discuss,” said Mayor Bob Stefanik. Discussion has taken place to expand the project to include an electronic sign and the installation of a decorative fence on the south side of the city’s cemetery on Royalton Road. Stefanik notes that it is early in the design concept stage, but he is looking at brick pillars with a black vinyl-like fence, in keeping with some of the businesses in the area.
Most of the debris has been cleared, with about 85% of the wood, metal and bricks that made up the building will be reused. The demolition site will be filled in, re-graded and then seeded. It is the city’s goal to have it ready for the annual 133rd Community Festival, which will take place August 18 through the 20.
Once the final design is chosen for the pavilion, sign and fencing, the city will then decide how to fund the project. It could add this to a bonded project, such as a road project; it could bond the project out by itself, or it can look at one-year notes, according to North Royalton Finance Director, Eric Dean. Although there is money in the city’s Capital Improvement Fund, this would be too large a project to utilize that fund.
Stefanik said he hopes to have the pavilion built in time for the city’s bicentennial celebration, which is scheduled for August of next year.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer