With the demolition of the “Lawyer’s Building,” located on 318 W. Fourth Street, Sinclair is considering using the site for additional parking spaces.
An expansion in parking will alleviate some of the college’s daily parking issues.
The building, bought in 2006 from a law firm, was demolished due to structural, functional and health problems that made it more cost effective to demolish the building than to renovate it, said Woody Woodruff, director of Facilities Management.
Mold, mildew, incessant flooding, severely damaged ceilings, a crumbling façade and a failing HVAC system were among the many reasons the college decided to demolish the building and deem it uninhabitable. The building was demolished on Dec. 8, 2011.
“The building was in poor condition,” Woodruff said. “Once the lawyers moved out, the building continued to deteriorate with no maintenance being done on it to the point that it was unusable.”
Procurement of the land was a part of Sinclair’s strategic plan to buy property close to the campus, which makes the location of the property very valuable, Woodruff said.
But Sinclair is awaiting pending approval from the zoning authority to start the additional parking project.
“We are in the central business district of Dayton, they do not typically want or desire or approve of a parking lot in the central business district,” Woodruff said. “Since we already have an existing parking lot, we have asked to do nothing but improve and expand the lawyers’ parking lot.”
The proposed project would cost no more than $50,000, according to the Ohio Board of Trustees agenda.
Due to pending city approval, no dates have been set to begin construction.
“The City of Dayton has been cooperative, understanding and they are working with us,” Woodruff said.
Alan Scherr Associates (ASA), an architectural design firm is working closely with the City of Dayton, so that Sinclair can receive the zoning change. Before the zoning change can occur, ASA must submit a proposal to Sinclair and then to the City of Dayton concerning what the site will be used for.
“We would extend that parking lot, gain some parking spaces and relieve some of the parking issues that we have on campus,” Woodruff said. “Everybody is always talking about parking and this is one way that we will relieve some of those parking issues.”
Who will be allowed to use the additional parking space is currently undecided, Woodruff said.
If the City of Dayton approves, construction might begin this summer with the intention of having additional parking ready for Fall Quarter.
At some point in the future, Sinclair plans to build an academic building and continue to expand by tearing down Buildings 15 and 16,Woodruff said.