DANVILLE — The Danville Heritage Association has asked the Danville Local School Board of Education to rent portions of the former intermediate building for a museum and library.
“As much as I personally would like to be the hero and give them access to the building, the footprint and proximity of the building are invaluable for the vision of a safe and secure parking area to reduce the risks of threats due to co-mingling with non-school traffic,” superintendent Jason Snively said.
“The board has already passed a resolution that no further tenants or other leases of the building will be accepted.”
This isn’t the first time DHA has asked the board for use of the building.
In 2023, DHA asked the board to rent the building to the history organization, instead of demolishing the structure. The board unanimously rejected the proposal.
Pat Crow, a Danville resident and DHA member stated the group’s position.
The DHA is not not asking to rent the full building but rather portions of it for a museum of Danville history. IT also seeks to move the public library to the intermediate building instead of the municipal building.
Crow cited Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.76 to authorize DHA to use the building for their multi-use purposes.
The state law Crow cites says, “as a social center for entertainment and education of the people, including the adult and youthful population, and for the discussion of all topics trending to the development of personal character and of civil welfare.”
Due to claims of the building not being in sound structural shape, DHA hired a structural engineer and architect to examine the building.
According to DHA, the engineer stated, “Not only has it been deemed safe and structurally stable, but it was also determined that the renovations to bring it into a condition to serve the Danville Library, a museum, senior center, etc., will not be extensive nor vastly expensive.”
Danville administration expected to move buildings
Danville’s school administration is expected to move to 203 Richards Street, adjacent to the elementary school, at an unknown date.
“The property gives us more access to the rest of the school grounds if ever necessary,” Snively said.
“As always, myself and the Board of Education appreciate and support the vision that the DHA has for the community,” Snively said in a statement to Knox Pages following the meeting.
“The proposed parking area will provide a highly visible and direct access into the new addition at the junior high and high school building during the day.”