A subcommittee of the Hamilton Vision Commission is exploring the feasibility of such a project, said John Guidugli, committee member and president of Hamilton Community Foundation.
Whether there is a need, gauging interest and community support, and tabulating the cost of renovating the building are issues that need addressed, Guidugli said.
“There have been some good discussions and there’s some level of enthusiasm for the idea,” he said. “Obviously it’s a prime location downtown. We’ll explore this and see where it goes.”
When E-B closed last March, former General Manager Keith Knott said he was hired by the property owner, FF Management Corp. of New York, to watch over the three-story, 168,000-square foot building.
Knott said the building has been maintained over the years and is in good shape. Each floor, including the basement, is about 40,000 square feet and is empty and ready for a new tenant, he said.
Vision commission Chairwoman Nancy Wiley said other ideas — including turning the site into a sports arena —have been discussed as well.
“We want to move as quickly as possible while the building is in good condition,” Wiley said. “We think getting young people downtown would be great.”
Various partnerships are being explored with institutions in the region to create a “multi-educational” use of the building, said Kenny Craig, president of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Craig emphasized that discussions are “very preliminary” and no one has committed to the project.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.
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