Architect Dominic Durante told Chardon City Council last Thursday his firm issued a request for qualifications early in August for the design and construction of…
Architect Dominic Durante told Chardon City Council last Thursday his firm issued a request for qualifications early in August for the design and construction of the Heritage House on Chardon Square.
Once interested builders answer the RFQs by the end of August, the top three will be asked to submit their proposals for design and build of the structure to replace the historic log cabin, he said.
Each design/build team will submit pricing and design proposals, Durante said, adding the city will contract with one by November.
“They’ll start work by May 1, after the Maple Festival, with construction to be done within the year,” he said.
Durante presented a concept design for a 2,000-square-foot building with covered porches to replace the 1,200-square-foot log cabin.
The main meeting room in Heritage House may be designed to seat up to 60 around tables, he said, with the evaporator off to the side, a warming kitchen, inside/outside concession area and storage room.
A gas-flame fireplace may be built from the existing fireplace and chimney, he added.
The total cost should be within $600,000, Durante said.
The conceptual drawings he presented to the council were made to avoid giving the design-build teams a blank slate and keep the needs of the stakeholders in the forefront, he said.
The goal is to build an esthetically pleasing, energy-efficient and low maintenance facility that can be used year-around, Durante said.
In other business, residents were heard regarding council’s plans to set up a sidewalk infill, replacement and repair program requiring property owners to install sidewalks along city streets.
They spoke before the second reading of the resolution for council.
“I’m here to support the program,” said Bob Cromwell of Huntingdon Street. “I ask you to enforce the legislation.”
Students on the way to school and seniors who want to walk for exercise were two reasons sidewalks are important, he said.
People interested in moving to the city are less likely to do so if sidewalks aren’t available.
“I ask you to enforce the legislation,” Cromwell said.
Dennis Pavella, of South Street, asked if the city is allowed to pay for sidewalk installation.
“I find it very punitive to be required to build sidewalks,” he said, adding the city hasn’t enforced the requirement in the past.
City Solicitor Jim Gillette said the Ohio Revised Code says property owners must pay for their sidewalks and the city has the option of putting the sidewalks in and assessing the property owner for the work on his or her property taxes.
The city waived the requirement, temporarily, until it was determined they must be built, he said.
Councilwoman Deborah Reiter said some municipalities pay for 50 percent of the installation costs, but Gillette said subdivision developers would expect the same benefit.
Mayor Phil King asked how property owners who have installed sidewalks at their own cost would feel about that.
About 55 percent of the city needs sidewalks, he said.
“I know this is a tough thing for council to wrestle with,” King said.
Council also voted to permit sales on the square during the Advocates for Recovery fundraiser Sept. 17.
Marcie Mondello-King said funds will go toward buying or building a transitional house for recovering male addicts somewhere in the city
