[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6284958,"mediaKeyId","2576370-b75467ff38115ab2d35d0d7123f03710","parentId",2576370,"title","Grandview Heights to hold Top of the Hill as interim park; master plan and archaeology review to follow","audioSeconds",1710,"startMs",1544860,"endMs",3255125,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576370-b75467ff38115ab2d35d0d7123f03710&start=1544&end=3255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576370-b75467ff38115ab2d35d0d7123f03710/thumbnail_1544860.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6284958/Grandview-Heights/Franklin-County/Ohio/Grandview-Heights-to-hold-Top-of-the-Hill-as-interim-park-master-plan-and-archaeology-review-to-follow","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284958-1997fdb1b202ab21f4bf89a7bb2bcaac/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167116&Signature=AGK-AM9iT9RRd~r-hLwHiRw7Woy36fIZ-MO4F7us9lQA6c5dLJqLohtnJJk7WP6dFL9uqygUKzeQ5qFfe6CAe2FI3Ep93tbjOa3mvLHt7w5yTqtQlDtm~HUhAB~QoR6ltituxMbpHSWLh-kt9JInZqn0c-lrCLl8lsmXBH5mZyzyfl7~DtTkoJFUN4xWCRw-8lu4rNism29NhUYb4~n5Rw0WdbBHsqIcbWXZciXiU15TAl0uLnyEsP17JvrkvNdLgZCsQki-WjMrNUow5I9CpOIUFBnOd1lDgfC8Fc7OQPFcDYuSvmx9PU4lVOX-WmpYJiLxDXa8BFI1Yknq6Jzg7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Grandview Heights OH","date","2025-03-11T11:13:29Z","article","City staff told the Recreation Services and Public Facilities Committee on Oct. 12, 2025, that when the municipal functions move from the Top of the Hill site, the city will use a $1,000,000 allocation to put the property into an interim park condition and preserve options for long-term reuse.

Why it matters: 1016 Grandview Avenue is centrally located and long familiar to residents as the municipal campus and a historic firehouse site. How the city treats the site in the interim and during master planning will shape neighborhood access, park connections and preservation of potential archaeological resources.

City staff recommended leaving the 1924 and 1936 portions of the firehouse intact while removing the later (1960s) addition. The design intent for the interim work includes removing most asphalt, preserving some north-side parking for maintenance and public access, narrowing curb cuts, extending sidewalks for pedestrian safety and restoring green space. Staff said the existing traffic signal at Grandview Avenue would remain and could be evaluated for pedestrian safety improvements.

The presentation outlined options for adding restrooms either by a small rear addition or by reusing existing interior space near existing plumbing; staff emphasized funding constraints and said the $1,000,000 is likely conservative and may not cover all desired improvements. Demolition of selected hardscape and partial removal of the 1960s addition was described as possible beginning in early 2026, with an interim community-accessible park sought in mid- to late 2026, contingent on design and bidding.

Staff raised archaeological and historic-preservation considerations. Historical records and oral history—cited by staff—identify several Native American earthworks in the region and an oral-history reference to an “Indian Mound” near the 1924 firehouse; oral accounts described a mound about 10 feet high and 65 feet in diameter and an account that reported skeletal remains found when the mound was removed. Staff said that further archaeological assessment is appropriate during master planning and that intensive excavation or ground-disturbing work should be avoided in the short term.

Staff described the interim approach as intentionally light-touch: remove nonessential paved surfaces, stabilize and secure the site, and avoid deep excavation so future archaeological study and community-driven master planning are not compromised. \"The goal with this project is to spend as little as possible, preserve as many opportunities as possible for the future of the site, as fiscally responsible responsibly as possible,\" Liz, a city staff member, told the committee.

Staff also emphasized timelines for broader planning: master planning for parks is expected to be a multi-year process (staff estimated between two and five years of study and public engagement before a final program and project list), and staff said they hope to begin elements of that engagement next year depending on staffing capacity and workload. Committee members asked whether the city intended to sell the parcel; staff said there are no current plans or considerations to sell the land and that any future change would be a decision for a later council.

Ending: Staff said they will keep the public informed via a project page and will bring detailed design and cost estimates back to the council and advisory boards as the interim design and the parks master plan move forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 10, 2025, Recreation Services and Public Facilities Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City staff outlined a near-term plan to put the Top of the Hill site (1016 Grandview Avenue) into a 'clean, safe, dry' interim park condition using $1 million in capital funds, retain the 1924/1936 firehouse west half, and proceed with a parks master plan and archaeological research before final reuse decisions.","taxTitle","Grandview Heights, Franklin County, Ohio","taxId",72272,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6284962,"Grandview Heights projects remain within funding while leaders plan next steps for Top of the Hill site",3038,261180,3300060,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576370-b75467ff38115ab2d35d0d7123f03710&start=261&end=3300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576370-b75467ff38115ab2d35d0d7123f03710/thumbnail_261180.jpg","/articles/6284962/Grandview-Heights/Franklin-County/Ohio/Grandview-Heights-projects-remain-within-funding-while-leaders-plan-next-steps-for-Top-of-the-Hill-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284962-feb290adfb7a1242432ee335e7412e3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167116&Signature=Rzenqwvsz8j37rAFIW3CK6Vebk8mGduA2J3t~2SSVA4JRN-2M74c5FTt1OH47qm-Ch1vM2pxAbqx4beyDen1Qu-Ow5-M3d1sDcF-vkrYnxo4fqoBsQgWUaBGf9wU49Fu~C8IL0qOqq5YuBNeyALXQqzfuRaZDnNSfm5P0EYD0LC2FLzkzWUol2KE8EwiYZHr6HeqNvYZO73q92hmAy9O1vtjVMkv98s9FDSuaFHUaLYdbgG1-cdawKDxLruj6h62oOwhuE4ogBjXBBMaq8Ux0tTeUhTLT3BNtgFmpZAW1I5b8JVJbuXlYtycKpqi1DWUJvpqcRmLmFSA-25CPB2T8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the Grandview Heights Recreation Services and Public Facilities Committee on Oct. 12, 2025, saying the municipal building and the new parks building are near their final costs and that the city retains a contingency of about $371,000 for the overall package.

The presentation outlined how the city trimmed building size and controlled costs on the new municipal building, applied savings to the parks project at McKinley Field Park, and expects to deliver the three linked projects (municipal building; McKinley Field parks building; Wyman Woods interim work) within the funding set aside from the 2022 levy and related sources.

Why it matters: The package covers public safety facilities, administrative offices and recreation services located in central Grandview Heights. Cost and schedule changes for the municipal building directly affect what money is available to create an interim park condition and fund future master planning for the Top of the Hill site at 1016 Grandview Avenue.

City staff said the municipal building (Fire/EMS/Police/Administrative services) is tracking to a construction cost of about $24,600,000 and a total project cost including soft costs of about $29,700,000. The parks building at McKinley Field Park has a construction total around $3.9 million and, with soft costs, is tracking at about $4.4 million. The city still has a $1,000,000 allocation reserved for the Wyman Woods expansion, giving an estimated project total near $35.2 million against approximately $35.5 million of total funding sources, leaving an approximate $371,000 contingency balance.

Staff described how change orders were handled. For the parks building, original construction was about $3.6 million with $359,000 in change orders; roughly $314,000 of those were classified as scope enhancements (additional activity room, covered patio, equipment storage and site improvements). For the municipal building, change orders have totaled about $1.2 million; staff said roughly $734,000 of that was scope enhancement (including a solar carport line item of about $530,000) and the remainder addressed soils improvements and other construction adjustments. Presenters characterized roughly 87% of parks change-order dollars as scope enhancements rather than corrections to design or construction.

On funding, staff listed the 2022 bond issuance of $25,000,000, ARPA funds, a state grant, about $8.5 million in cash reserves and roughly $978,000 of bond investment earnings that must be tracked for federal arbitrage rules. Staff cautioned that the $978,000 is subject to IRS rebatable arbitrage rules and cannot be treated as free cash; some earnings above allowable amounts will need to be returned to the IRS.

Staff also said some federal incentives earmarked for solar (tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act) remain available but could be at risk depending on federal developments. \"This project has been very well managed, and kudos to Resili. They've really done a good job,\" said Liz, a city staff member, during the briefing. She added, \"Safety, fiscal responsibility, preservation of future opportunity, that's the goal.\"

Management changes and oversight: staff announced they are finalizing a re-engagement with the project's owner's representative (Go International) and stated a point person for administration will be Adam Maxwell, an appointment expected to start in April 2026. A consultant named Mike Maxwell was described as the project's on-the-ground owner’s representative lead but was not present at the meeting.

Schedule and next steps: staff said construction for portions of the work is complete or near completion and that some pending change orders remain under review. The parks building change orders are expected to result in contract deductions in final accounting; staff said they expect to finalize remaining change orders soon. The committee was told the city will continue design and bidding tasks for the Wyman Woods interim work this year, with demolition and site-prep work hoped to start in early 2026 and interim community use targeted by mid- to late 2026, subject to design, bidding and permitting.

Ending: Staff asked for patience from the public while master planning and fundraising continue, and reiterated that final decisions about long-term reuse will follow a broader planning process and future council decisions.","City staff told the Recreation Services and Public Facilities Committee that the new municipal building and McKinley Field parks building are near final costs and within total funding; $1 million is reserved for interim improvements at the Top of the Hill (Wyman Woods) site and a parks master plan will guide long-term use.","actionData","errors"]

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Grandview Heights to hold Top of the Hill as interim park; master plan and archaeology review to follow

Grandview Heights projects remain within funding while leaders plan next steps for Top of the Hill site