LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The Allen County Commissioners are looking to transfer possession of Memorial Hall to the Port Authority as plans move forward to redevelop the nearly 120-year-old property into a boutique hotel.
The two boards met Monday afternoon to discuss the Port Authority taking possession of the historic building.
The Port Authority has been working on plans to redevelop Memorial Hall into a boutique hotel. Taking ownership of the property would allow the Port Authority to pursue Brownfield grants to help with asbestos remediation and apply for Ohio historic tax credits to assist with construction costs.
The Port Authority is also close to signing a management group to help move the project forward.
The Port Authority has been working on plans to redevelop Memorial Hall into a boutique hotel.
“We have a a contractor selected as a hotel management group. We're still working on a contract with them. But that'll soon be announced very soon and so we've got all the players put in place that's going to help us round out this project. And everything's on paper right now and there'll be certainly some additional assessments and there's going to be some possible interior things that are going to be done first," says Cindy Leis, Pres./CEO Allen Economic Development Group.
The Port Authority would like to take ownership of Memorial Hall by mid-September so it can meet the deadline to apply for a Brownfield grant to help with remediation of the property.
