OBERLIN — The long-awaited $14 million East College Street project planned by Sustainable Community Associates could include an Oberlin College student art gallery and art studio.

Oberlin College is in discussions with SCA to provide $500,000 to $600,000 of funding for the project, according to Ronald Watts, the college’s vice president of finance.

“I feel confident we will get an agreement in the next 30 days,” Watts said.

The college’s participation in the project planned by Josh Rosen, Ben Enzinga and Naomi Sabel should be a win-win for everyone involved, Watts said.

It takes some of the risk out of a financial institution’s involvement in the project and provides the college with needed art studio space in a prime location, Watts said.

The art gallery and studio facilities may incorporate up to 4,000 square feet of space in the project planned for where the Rax restaurant and some other businesses used to.

The project also will have 12,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space, 3,000 square feet of office space and 42 condos ranging from one to three bedrooms. Ground will be broken later this summer and the complex is scheduled to open in August 2009, Rosen said.

Rosen said legal and accounting work is being finalized on federal New Market Tax Credits for the project. The building is being financed by Lorain National Bank, he said.

“The space would not only expand the downtown arts community — Gingko Gallery, the New Union Center for the Arts, and Firelands Association for the Visual Arts — it would also enhance the presence of art and educational programs downtown and foster audiences for all,” Sabel said.

Sarah Schuster, associate professor of art at Oberlin College, said a downtown gallery and studio “could not come at a better time for the Art Department.”

“Many students come to Oberlin because it is a liberal arts college known for its vibrant art community,” she said. “That includes not only the conservatory, but also the dance, theater, and cinema programs and the visual arts. During the past 20 years, the number of art faculty has increased and number of art majors has tripled, and so has the demand for studio and exhibition space.”

The project is designed to be energy efficient with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold-rated status.

Cleanup of the site was an issue for a time.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency cited the project with a violation last year, and SCA voluntarily agreed to do sampling, said Natalie Oryshkewych, a manager in the hazardous waste division.

“They took soil samples at the site and based on the results, they abated their violation,” she said.

“We bought the site with knowledge it was a brown field and have remediated this property to the EPA’s satisfaction,” Rosen said.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here.
If you are registered, click here to log in.
Need help? Email Us.