Heritage Center to Purchase 82 South Main
The Oberlin Heritage Center has entered into an agreement to purchase a one-story downtown Oberlin building at 82-84 South Main Street through its newly formed Vineway Limited Liability Company (LLC). This property is adjacent to the Oberlin Heritage Center's complex of historic sites and houses the Mandarin Chinese Restaurant, Lupita's Restaurant, and The Bridge (the technology center of the Oberlin Public Library). The property includes parking areas south and west of the building and vehicular access to Main and Vine Streets. The property will be managed by a professional property management service and will remain on the tax rolls. Oberlin Heritage Center vice president Walter Edling will serve as President and Chairman of the Board of Managers of Vineway, L.L.C. and other Vineway board members are Marianne Cochrane, Nicholas Jones and James W. White.
Oberlin Heritage Center Board President James White commented that the Oberlin Heritage Center takes its responsibility as the owner of a commercial property on Main Street seriously. "The Oberlin Heritage Center looks forward to becoming a stronger and more visible presence within the downtown business district. This purchase is essentially an investment in both the history and the future of Oberlin," he added. "It is our intention to maintain long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with the existing tenants," stated White.
The acquisition of the property ensures that the Oberlin Heritage Center will have secure vehicular access from Vine and Main Streets to the Oberlin Heritage Center's parking area for visitors, members, staff, and volunteers who come to its historic sites: the Monroe, the Jewett House and the Little Red Schoolhouse. Pat Murphy, Oberlin Heritage Center executive director, commented that "The property is strategically very important for the Oberlin Heritage Center. Without it our complex of historic sites is landlocked. The new property will provide better access and parking for visitors and school buses and help the Oberlin Heritage Center to better serve the community and accomplish its mission."
Approximately half of the property purchase was funded by a grant from the Richard R. Hallock Foundation made for the express purpose of securing vehicular access to the Oberlin Heritage Center and its parking area. The balance was provided by a bequest from a lifelong Oberlin resident. The sale is scheduled to close in spring, 2010.
