Wednesday, April 21, 1999
Urban Center takes shape
Monroe gets new city home
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MONROE — Two workers filled a hole in the driveway, four installed siding, one used a crane to reach the clock tower, another strutted on stilts to install ceiling tiles, and four put in the wiring.
Wherever you look these days, crews are scurrying around at the new Monroe Urban Center construction site on Main Street, working furiously to meet the mid-June completion date.
And the building is rapidly taking shape.
“Look at this room,” said City Manager Donald Whitman one recent day, as he pointed out the large council chambers, with oak beams, a decorative circular window and numerous other windows set high in the wall. “This is beautiful. This whole building is wonderful.”
He led the way to offices for himself, the mayor, assistant city manager, law director, finance director, secretaries, clerks, a conference room and much more. A glassed corridor separates the right and left wings, and there's a bright, roomy reception area and waiting room for each side.
The downstairs police headquarters includes offices for the chief, detectives, captains, sergeants, an interrogation room and dispatching. There's also a community room with kitchen for meetings and celebrations, storage space, and a “future growth” section.
The $3.5 million, 23,000-square-foot center will allow city workers, including administrative staff and police, to be under one roof for the first time in decades.
Monroe now spends about $50,000 annually for police quarters on Lebanon Street, administrative offices on Old Street, and a finance clerk's office on Elm Street. A new firehouse is on Ohio 4.
“We shouldn't be in all these rented facilities all over town,” Mr. Whitman said. “This will be much more efficient.”
As he walked the site, Mr. Whitman pointed out the clock tower, which will have clocks on three sides, and the front courtyard which will have brick pavers.
Inside, Dave Nienaber, of Bridgetown, an employee of Queen City Acoustical, strapped 40-inch stilts on his legs to reach the 9-foot tall ceilings. Others painted walls, hauled debris and worked on wiring and plumbing.
Outside, under a bright, sunny sky, Tom Fox, of Arcanum and Marcus Gonzalez, Dayton, used plastering tools to spread a synthetic stucco on parts of the building. Nearby, David Stidham, of Trenton, superintendent for the general contractor, Gebhart Contractors, Hamilton, guided men working on the driveway.
The red brick and tan stone building, situated on the three properties that once held a firehouse, a bar and a blacksmith shop, was designed by Cole & Russell Architects Inc. of East Walnut Hills.
Bad weather, difficulty in getting the required steel and other factors have caused many delays.
“It's getting there, finally,” Mr. Stidham said. “I think it's going to be finished on time. It's looking real good.”
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