Middletown considering historic designation for old library building

Middletown City Council will consider a city Historic Commission recommendation to designate the the Carnegie Library site, 1320 First St., as a historic site and recommend the site to the National Register of Historic Places of the U.S. Department of the Interior. FILE PHOTO Background: An application for local landmark status was submitted to the Middletown Historic Commission by property owner Dan Mayzum (1865 GEBA LLC) for the Carnegie Library located at 1320 First Avenue, Middletown, Ohio 45044. The Carnegie Library site includes three properties: Parcel Q6532001000014, Parcel Q6532001000015, and Parcel Q6532001000016. A public hearing was held on June 20, 2019 in accordance with Chapter 1212: Historic Preservation of the Middletown Development Code. The Historic Commission voted in favor and recommend approval of the designation. The Historic Commission’s recommendation of approval is being forwarded to the Middletown City Council for their public hearing for the historic designation at the August 6, 2019 meeting. The Historic Commission based their recommendation on the site meeting all of the review criteria for a historic designation outlined in the Middletown Development Code. Dan Mayzum, a historic preservation architect, recently purchased the old Carnegie Library at the corner of First Avenue and Curtis Street in Middletown. Construction started in 1911 and the building had several additions through the years. Mayzum wants to turn the building into a home brewers brewery, a restaurant, a reception and banquet room and a cooperative workspace and marketing research facility. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Middletown City Council will consider a city Historic Commission recommendation to designate the the Carnegie Library site, 1320 First St., as a historic site and recommend the site to the National Register of Historic Places of the U.S. Department of the Interior. FILE PHOTO Background: An application for local landmark status was submitted to the Middletown Historic Commission by property owner Dan Mayzum (1865 GEBA LLC) for the Carnegie Library located at 1320 First Avenue, Middletown, Ohio 45044. The Carnegie Library site includes three properties: Parcel Q6532001000014, Parcel Q6532001000015, and Parcel Q6532001000016. A public hearing was held on June 20, 2019 in accordance with Chapter 1212: Historic Preservation of the Middletown Development Code. The Historic Commission voted in favor and recommend approval of the designation. The Historic Commission’s recommendation of approval is being forwarded to the Middletown City Council for their public hearing for the historic designation at the August 6, 2019 meeting. The Historic Commission based their recommendation on the site meeting all of the review criteria for a historic designation outlined in the Middletown Development Code. Dan Mayzum, a historic preservation architect, recently purchased the old Carnegie Library at the corner of First Avenue and Curtis Street in Middletown. Construction started in 1911 and the building had several additions through the years. Mayzum wants to turn the building into a home brewers brewery, a restaurant, a reception and banquet room and a cooperative workspace and marketing research facility. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

The next step in the revitalization of a local landmark will happen next month when Middletown City Council considers a recommendation to designate the former Carnegie Library as a historic site.

In June, the city Historic Commission held a public hearing and approved a recommendation to designate the former library at 1320 First St. as a historic site and recommend the site to the National Register of Historic Places of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The commission based its recommendation on the site meeting all of the review criteria outlined by the Middletown Development Code, according to Ashley Combs, city planning director.

The request for historic designation was made by property owner Dan Mayzum, who purchased the 106-year-old building last year. The former library had been neglected for more than 15 years before the preservation architect from Glendale purchased the three parcels.

Mayzum, 50, owner of Architecture Renewal, purchased the building and land last June for $5,000 — $90,000 less than it was appraised in 2017 by the Butler County Auditor’s Office. Mayzum has estimated the cost of renovations of the library at about $4 million.

Mayzum envisions four businesses operating inside the 17,000-square-foot building. He’d like to open a cooperative brewing company, a restaurant and 120-seat reception hall and a business incubator.

“Once it receives the designation, then we’re eligible for the guaranteed 20 percent in federal historic tax credits and the up to 25 percent in the competitive state historic tax credits,” Mayzum said.

MORE: Architect hopes to change city’s failed history of turning dilapidated buildings into useful property

He said after getting final written approval from the state, the first phase will be stabilizing the structure exterior with a new roof, restoring and refurbishing 181 windows, replacing doors and a new concrete bond beam to support the roof in the 1911 building and the 1938 addition.

The second phase would be the new interior finishes and two elevators, one for guests, the other for the kitchen, he said.

Mayzum and his partner Dan Barton are working with the city to redevelop and revitalize the adjacent Oakland neighborhood.

The Middletown Public Library was located at the building from 1911 to 1987 before the new library on Broad Street was built. It has also be the home of Serenity House and Angel Place shelters and had five other private owners before Mayzum’s company 1865 GEBA LLC purchased the building last year. The library was expanded three times in 1938, 1959 and 1969.

According to the commission, the library is historically significant as it met an important need in Middletown for a more robust public educational infrastructure.

“This educational asset development was part of several community upgrades required by local industrialists for their increased investment in Middletown, versus potentially locating to other regional sites. This industrialist group, led by Armco Steel founder George Verity, spearheaded the drive in accepting the Carnegie Corporation grant offer and assembling the required local support commitments,” according to the commission’s report.

About the Author