Maumee will give $15K to chamber to assist move

8/3/2004

Maumee's Chamber of Commerce could be in its new offices in the Maumee Indoor Theater by as early as Sept. 1, the city's chief administrator said last night.

City Council voted last night to assist the chamber's move from its current location on Conant Street.

Council also approved an asbestos study to be performed on the current chamber offices and the former Hilltop Automotive gas station next door. City officials plan to demolish both structures on the east side of the 200 block of Conant.

"If we're going to take the building down, it's a requirement" of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, said Larry Gamble, city service director. Mannik & Smith Group of Maumee could begin and conclude testing in the next few weeks, he said. The study will cost the city $2,820.

The chamber will receive $15,000 from the city, said administrator John Jezak. The money will furnish the new offices and compensate for the loss of rental fees the chamber collects for use of a community room in its current building.

Mr. Jezak expects the chamber's move to be complete by Sept. 1, and demolition could begin by the end of the year. City administrators will make a presentation to council Monday concerning possible uses for the block.

Mr. Jezak said a combination of offices and loft-style apartments is one consideration. The ideal architecture for the space would be turn-of-the-century, to "fit in with the style of Maumee."

Some additional environmen-tal testing might be needed on the land under the chamber building, which also was a gas station at one time.