By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The multi-use pavilion at the Galion Big Four Depot won’t be as originally planned, but the revised plans will still do justice to the proposed project.
Matt Echelberry, communications director for the City of Galion, presented the revised plans to the Galion Design Review Board, Uptowne District Monday afternoon. With the original bidding coming back well over double the estimate, the project was examined for places where money could be saved.
One of the biggest changes that will result in a lower cost is reducing the total square footage by 320 square feet. The trusses will also be changed to pre-engineered material and will be assembled differently for the roof, which will not only save on costs with a simpler design but will also result in opening the upper portion of the building.
One of the changes that will be less noticeable to the average person is the roof slope. The pavilion roof has been adjusted for a less intense angle.
Overall, the construction design was simplified to make the project less labor-intensive, though it will not be as historically accurate.
“The bottom line is, I think you want something there that looks compatible, but you’re never going to replicate what’s there,” Law Director Thomas Palmer said.
“For me, when we talk about the little tiny issues Uptowne and we’re looking at historical accuracy, to me this is actually a big deal,” said board member Heath Watkins. “But at the same time, with modern construction you have to go forward with progress of what you can and can’t do.
“We have one of two choices,” Watkins continued. “You either let it deteriorate or do something positive.”
The changes will bring the cost down by roughly $100,000, according to Echelberry. The City of Galion secured a $200,000 Ohio Cultural Facilities Grant in 2003, which is being used to fund the project. Echelberry noted that the city appropriated additional money in case the project totaled more than the grant amount.
The Design Review Board approved the changes, along with a material modification request for the Central Hotel.
According to the architect on the Central Hotel project, there were large areas where not much of the wood was left on the existing fascia. As a result, they requested placing coil stock aluminum over the existing deteriorated trim. It will be color-matched to the color that was approved previously.
There was some debate whether the board should approve the use of aluminum, especially after the furor that was raised by Ann Heimlich over having to replace her windows at Grandma Ann’s Attic.
Palmer, citing the board’s rules, said the Design Review Board has the ability to choose which way to go since the guidelines were in a gray area in this specific case.
“It kind of gives weight to both allowing this and not allowing it,” Palmer said. “I think that means, from a legal perspective, it’s up to you all.”
Palmer noted that deteriorated materials are allowed to be replaced and the new material must duplicate the old as close as possible. He believed that would be allowed in this case while also citing that the current fascia was not original to the building.
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