Council pauses action on City Center stabilization as residents seek more detail

Council members on the North College Hill City Council debated whether to fast-track a contract with RWB Properties to stabilize the 1500 West Galbraith building, commonly called the City Center. A motion to suspend second and third readings for Resolution 12-2025, which would approve the contract and declare an emergency under the Ohio Revised Code, failed to receive the six votes required to suspend readings.

The discussion centered on competing priorities and missing information, including whether the administration had solicited formal bids or quotes, the total anticipated cost of restoring the building versus demolition and the precise funding plan. City Administrator Miss Duchstein said $480,000 in ARPA funds had been encumbered for the project and indicated the city could draw approximately $300,000 from the general fund or pursue lending; she said administration had also sought quotes and had moved to encumber ARPA funds in order to avoid losing that funding.

Several council members and residents pushed for additional transparency before approving the contract. Councilmember Miss Zorb and others asked for written documentation that had been referenced in committee, including any bid or tear-down estimates; resident speakers submitted a written request for the contract between the city and a nonprofit related to Pies Park and pointed out that some emails and attachments were lost during the city’s Microsoft migration. Resident Annalise Clear and others urged the council to hold a public town hall so citizens could ask questions about the scope, schedule and total costs (restoration, demolition, or sale) before the council moved forward.

Administration and proponents said the stabilization work is time-sensitive. Miss Duchstein and others said the intended stabilization scope includes asbestos abatement and mold remediation, drying and sealing the building envelope, and securing the facility to prevent continued deterioration; those steps were described as necessary whether the council ultimately decides to remodel or to demolish and rebuild. Proponents said delaying stabilization could increase future costs and jeopardize ARPA funds already encumbered for the project.

The failed suspension means the council did not advance the contract at this meeting. Councilmembers instructed administration to continue work on technical details, and several members proposed scheduling an ad hoc committee meeting and a public town hall to present findings, invite RWB or other contractors to answer questions, and gather public input before a future vote. The motion to suspend failed on a roll call after several members cited a need for more documentation and public engagement.

The council’s discussion included references to Ohio Revised Code requirements for emergency and procurement processes; the law director noted that the item’s legal basis appears in the “now, therefore” clause of the draft resolution. The administration said it would provide the documents requested by council and coordinate with RWB on availability for a public briefing.

Next steps: Administration will circulate the contract documentation and cost breakdown to council; councilmembers said they would seek dates for a town hall and may use the ad hoc committee within a council committee to develop public outreach and review contractor documents before the council votes on the stabilization contract.