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Artspace Projects secures High Street property

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 12:11 AM Saturday, March 27, 2010

HAMILTON — Artspace Projects has secured a purchase agreement for the historic Hamilton Center Building at 222 High St. for redevelopment as an artists’ colony in a project worth $9.5 million.

The agreement secures the $440,000 building for up to two years for the group as they finalize plans for development and financing, said Greg Handberg, vice president of properties with Artspace.

Artspace, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit that drives art-development projects, plans to redevelop the building into a mixed-use arts facility, with about 35 live/work units on the upper floors and an arts-related commercial space on the ground floor, he said.

With the site chosen, the group can now focus on next steps, including completing architectural and engineering work plans — which Handberg said will include removal of the building’s metal façade — and securing financing.

Teri Whitmore, city planning director, said $700,000 in pre-development funding has already been acquired, including $224,000 from the city’s general fund, $250,000 from community sources and various federal grants.

The city will also assist Artspace in applying for $4.3 million in low-income housing credits from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. At this point “the city has not committed any additional funds to go into this project,” Whitmore said.

Artspace has been the dream of local leaders and community stakeholders since the fall of 2006 when, at the invitation of the Vision 2020 Commission, the group began assessing whether arts-related live/work development could be established in the downtown. Leaders hope the project will drive economic development.

Handberg said the building will likely not be ready for occupancy until 2013, with construction taking up to 14 months since the building needs “a full rehabilitation.”

While Artspace has 24 housing facilities across the country, Hamilton would be the first in Ohio, Handberg said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

Building facts

The Hamilton Center Building is at 222 High St.

The first building was constructed in 1900 by local businessman Henry Frechtling; the second buildingwas constructed between 1906 and 1913 by architect Frederick Mueller.

Preservation Ohio has recognized the Hamilton Center for the last three years as one of Ohio’s most endangered sites

Source: Citizens for Historic and Preservation Services.

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