HUDSON: Recent discussions about the fate of the former Youth Development Center — purchased by the city for $6.9 million after the camp for troubled kids closed in 2008 — are leaning toward putting the complex in a landfill.
The city administration long has lobbied to lease the dozen or so red-brick buildings on the 428-acre wooded property to several nonprofit enterprises.
A search committee reviewed 14 applicants and narrowed the field to four preferred tenants, from whom the city expected to collect $1.36 million per year in leasing fees.
But at a workshop meeting this week, City Council learned the University of Akron has backed out of its proposal to lease six buildings for environmental research labs. Council members also questioned whether two of the three remaining tenants could afford the projects they proposed.
“I think we’re trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” Councilman-at-large William Wooldredge said.
Two months ago, the city sent detailed lease proposals to the four target groups.
Mayor William Currin said UA officials said their financial situation has changed and they no longer are interested in leasing the property, although they would be willing to talk about a “partnership” to use the lake and wetlands on the property for research.
UA asked Hudson to make a proposal to that end, Currin said.
Council members said it should be up to UA to offer the proposal, and that the term “partnership” sounded like UA would expect Hudson to bear some financial responsibility.
Councilman Dan Williams said that as far as he’s concerned, “Akron U is out” of the equation.
Another potential tenant, Hudson Community Education and Recreation (HCER), has not responded to the city’s proposal. Currin said meetings have been scheduled, then postponed.
Currin said it is his understanding the group is prepared to use the YDC’s former high school for family educational and recreational programs as soon as it is made available, and would pay for its lease out of user fees.
But some council members said eight weeks was ample time for the group to give the city an answer, and questioned whether HCER could pay for its lease.
“My feeling is HCER doesn’t have the financial wherewithal to spend a lot of money on this,” said Williams, who believes the building will need significant renovation before use.
Ward 3 Councilman Douglas Hasbrouck, however, said HCER is a Hudson-oriented group that benefits the citizens and is deserving of city investment, if necessary.
“When it comes to HCER, Hudson should be cooperative,” he said. “I think we should work with them as much as we can.”
Hasbrouck said he also did not favor tearing down the YDC’s school because the gym, auditorium and other facilities could be used right away.
“There is no point in having a $6.9 million property that we landbank and sit back and wonder what we’re going to do with it,” he said.
The tenant proposed for the YDC’s old administration building is the new nonprofit business incubator TECHudson, which was launched with a city grant.
Hasbrouck questioned whether TECHudson would be able to pay for its lease because it’s already receiving city support, and he noted Hudson “faces legitimate concerns over finances over the next couple of years.”
The fourth nonprofit eyeing the property, Everest Soccer, wants to build a training facility.
Council President David Basil said Everest Soccer “remains very interested” and the administration hopes to meet with the group next week.
Councilman-at-large Hal DeSaussure, however, said he’s not in favor of having Everest build on the property if the other proposals fall through.
Instead, the city should consider the property “a blank slate” and discuss potential uses, such as an art center. A soccer training center could ruin the “ambience” for another use, he said.
“Let’s put Everest on hold until we decide,” DeSaussure said.
Council agreed a decision needs to be made before the weather turns because they don’t want the city burdened with another winter’s heating bills for vacant buildings.
Most seemed to favor demolishing the buildings sooner than later, and Basil agreed a demolition bid should be sought next month so razing could begin early next year if necessary.
Meanwhile, the city is still unsure how it will pay for the $6.9 million purchase.
The property is being held in a trust by Summit County so Hudson is legally free to pursue state and federal funding to help with the purchase.
Not all of the federal funding Hudson was counting on has come through, but Currin said he is confident the money will come eventually.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.