Convention center considered in Oberlin
OBERLIN — An area east of Tappan Square might become a lot greener in the next few years.
Oberlin College is going to examine the feasibility of building a convention center using sustainable technology to replace the aging Oberlin Inn at the same time it works on plans for new, green dormitories, said Al Moran, vice president of college relations.
The college wants to build the convention center and dorms in the area bounded by East Lorain, South Main, East College and Pleasant streets to the south and east of the Allen Memorial Art Museum, Moran said.
An expert will be hired to conduct a feasibility study with a completion date of June, according to Moran.
The college owns the land along Pleasant Street and Willard Court that would be used as the site for new dormitories, Moran said. There are several historic buildings in the area that would be preserved, he said.
Newly elected Oberlin City Council President David Sonner said he looks forward to working with the college on the project, saying the Oberlin Inn might be replaced with a “world class convention center.”
“This is the best proposal I’ve encountered in the 40 years I’ve lived in Oberlin,” said Sonner, who was elected to lead the new Council, which was sworn in Monday night.
The convention center probably would need to be a multi-story facility, meaning the Council probably will have to take another look at the building height restriction for downtown, Sonner said.
Buildings now are limited to no higher than 35 feet, although the Zoning Board of Appeals granted a five-foot variance for the college’s proposed jazz studies, which will be 40 feet tall building, said Marion Campbell, a zoning board member.
Sonner said he would limit any new height requirement to six or seven stories — about the height of the spire on the old Oberlin High School, now the New Union Arts Center north of City Hall.
There is a seven-story structure in Oberlin — the Firelands dorm northeast of City Hall — but it doesn’t seem that tall because was built in a dip in the topography, Sonner said.
Campbell said she personally wouldn’t like to see building heights go to six or seven stories near downtown.
“Lord, that’s a huge high thing,” she said of the spire on the New Union Arts Center,
Frank Carlson, a member of the Oberlin Planning Commission, said he also had concerns about “dramatically” changing height requirements downtown.
Moran said it is too early to discuss any specifics, but he said people have been saying for years that the Oberlin Inn needs to be updated or replaced.
Meanwhile, the area to the southeast of the Oberlin Inn is seeing signs of renewal in a private project planned by Oberlin College graduates Josh Rosen, Ben Ezinga and Naomi Sabel.
Bulldozers are ripping apart the former Rax restaurant to clear the way for a green $15.8 million residential and commercial development at 43 E. College St. that will have landscaping to absorb rainwater on the rooftop.
Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by January 8th, 2008 in Local and State.
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