[Dispatch] Ohio first lady visits Ro-Na restoration project

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Ohio first lady visits Ro-Na restoration project

March 05, 2010 @ 12:00 AM

DAVID E. MALLOY

The Herald-Dispatch

IRONTON -- Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland got a first-hand look Thursday at the Ro-Na restoration project that could be seeking capital funds in an upcoming state budget, along with state and historic tax credits.

"Anything that shows community pride is uplifting," Strickland said Thursday afternoon at the Ironton City Center. "I can sense enthusiasm and excitement for the project. The community has to do a lot, but we would like to help."

"We are preparing to go after state historic tax credits and possibly capital improvement funds in the state budget," said Ralph Kline, assistant executive director of the Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization.

"I love this building," said Katrina Keith, co-chair of the Ro-Na restoration project. "I hope you feel the energy in that building that I do."

The project is estimated to cost more than $8.2 million.

The theater building in the 300 block of South 3rd Street was once a showcase billed as the Tri-State's finest theater. But that was some 50 to 60 years ago. The building fell upon tough times and a number of roof leaks damaged the building and the murals inside the theater.

The city was able to find enough money to put a new roof on the building, but a lot of work remains to turn the building into a performing arts center like some local officials hope to do.

"I can remember coming to movies here when I was a kid," said Craig Allen, an Ironton lawyer. "It really was something special. It had murals on the walls. I would like to see it restored."

"There is energy in the building," Keith said. "We refuse to die. We refuse to give up. We need your support for this project."

The project would tie into some $11 million in other projects on the drawing board for downtown Ironton, Kline said. The projects include a new transit center, a lofts project, synchronizing traffic lights on Park Avenue, improvements to the Depot Square area including a covered walkway, a farmer's market and a splash park, he said.

"The mission is to get people downtown," he said. "We need to give people a reason to be downtown."