Interurban building to be temporarily moved; permanent location to be discussed

MEDINA — For more than 30 years, the small yellow building with green trim has sat mid-block on South Court Street. Now, as construction begins on Medina's Legacy Hotel, it must move to be protected. That building was once a part of the Cleveland Southwestern Electric Railway, often known as the Interurban, which reached Medina in 1897. The building was originally just north of Medina on U.S. 42, near the current entrance to Stonegate Drive. In 1931, the railway ceased operation, and the building was no longer in use. More than 50 years later, in 1988, the city saved the Interurban building from demolition. The building has since been owned by the city. In 1991, the Interurban building was relocated to South Court Street, and the Medina Community Design Committee restored it. The group has continued to preserve the building throughout the years. Medina's Legacy Hotel, which will be directly behind where the Interurban building currently stands, first was discussed in mid-2022 as developer Jim Gerspacher presented plans for a hotel on South Court Street to Medina's Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission and Historic Preservation Board. More than a year ago, the venture was sold to Jason Stevenson of Autonomy Capital. Stevenson, a Medina native, has since led the development of the Legacy Hotel project. Following the commission and boards' approvals, the two buildings located on the Legacy Hotel's property were demolished and crews are preparing to start construction. "Due to some changes in the site, there's a water vault that needs to go basically right next to (the Interurban building), making protecting that structure difficult," Medina Community Development Director Andrew Dutton said. Dutton said that throughout the commission and boards' meetings, the Legacy Hotel's plans showed the Interurban building could be left in place and protected. Now, with the changes in the site, Dutton said everyone involved agrees that the best approach is to move the structure, rather than leave it in place and hope to protect it. During the Medina Finance Committee's meeting on Monday, Dutton presented several options for the Interurban building from moving it to city-owned property or the Medina County Historical Society's McDowell-Phillips House. "Timing is important here (for) the hotel project," Dutton said. "Obviously, the buildings have been torn down on the site and this has to do with utility work, so it's one of the first things to get done. So, we really need to keep that moving so the project doesn't come to a halt." The second part of the request for council action spoke about the building's use and permanent location. Stevenson said Legacy Hotel intends to keep the Interurban building in its current place on South Court Street, stating they'd make sure it's protected. "It's our own perspective that that building deserves the sort of honors that it's earned, right?" Stevenson said. "It's been around over 100 years. It's a major part of what helped the community grow. The Interurban Railroad has got a wonderful and storied history in Medina. We intend to honor it. We don't intend to do anything other than give it a long-term home." Stevenson said they had put together a proposal with a wide variety of ideas on what to use the Interurban building for once the hotel was constructed, which included a valet stand. The valet seemed to get the most concern, he said, stating he's sensitive to that concern because it could dilapidate the building. "I can see, situationally, us using it for all kinds of reasons, but all of them are going to be in honor of the building and in the best interest of the building," Stevenson said. The other proposal regarding the Medina County Historical Society-owned property stated the space could be used as either a temporary or permanent relocation of the building. "The primary purpose is to save this historic structure. We do not want to see anything happen to it," historical society President Brian Feron said. "The (Community Design Committee) has put in over 30 years of maintenance and care." Feron said the historical society's ' concern is not about the hotel, stating that the organization wholeheartedly endorses its construction. Rather, it's about preserving the Interurban building. The Medina Community Design Committee has invested both time and effort throughout the years to preserve the building, Feron said. He noted that the society also has a track record of preserving its buildings as historically accurate as they can. "I might add, it's not historically in the right location. Although, I understand when the Feckley Lot was built, it probably made sense to move it over there," Feron said. "But the Interurban never ran down South Court Street. It ran up Medina Street to Liberty." With several options presented, Medina City Council and the administration talked more about the building's move. Before Monday's meeting, Medina Service Director Nino Piccoli had an estimating contractor look at the Interurban building to assess what it would take to move it. Piccoli said the building's sill plate is sitting flat on a concrete wall. His proposal to move the building is to take notches out of the concrete and slide two beams through to lift the building. In the next couple of weeks, a crane is being brought to the city for the installation of HVAC systems at the public bathrooms. Piccoli suggested taking advantage of having a crane and using it to pick up the building and move it. Piccoli said the best approach would be to move the building into the Feckley Lot, just south of its current location. With a short move, he said it would allow Council to further discuss the building's permanent location. "It has a slate roof. That's what makes this more challenging," Piccoli said. "We're anticipating it's about eight tons, 16,000 pounds, based on the structure of the wood and with the slate." To move the building from its current location to the Feckley lot probably would cost about $2,500, Piccoli said. Shortly after sharing the estimated cost, Stevenson said the Legacy Hotel would cover the costs. With Piccoli's suggestions presented and the costs covered, the Medina Finance Committee moved forward to have the Interurban building moved to the Feckley Lot, using the crane. Within the motion, Councilman Jim Shields said it would give the Council more time to decide its final location. "It's a long-term decision," Medina City Council President John Coyne said. "Just like it was in the '90s. I think it deserves that." Contact reporter Sara Crawford at (330) 721-4063 or scrawford@medina-gazette.com.