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Site chosen for Warren County arts center

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By Rich Gillette, Staff Writer 5:43 PM Friday, September 18, 2009

Otterbein Retirement Community has been chosen as the location for a proposed Warren County Arts and Cultural Center.

A freestanding facility could be built at the location, which sits at Ohio 741 and Ohio 63 in Turtlecreek Twp., or one of Otterbein’s buildings could be used, according to Daniel Cunningham, chair of the board of trustees for the arts center.

“We had several very good proposals but Otterbein did the best job of meeting all of the criteria set forth in our request,” Cunningham said.

After determining in 2007 a need for the arts center in Warren County through community surveys, the board has set out to plan every aspect for the facility, a process it expects to be lengthy.

The board commissioned consulting agency Skystone Ryan in January to conduct a three-month study on possible locations for the proposed arts center. The $100,000 needed to complete the study came from trustee donations according to Cunningham, citing the board’s commitment to move the process forward.

Cunningham said the board has hired an architecture firm to draw plans for a new building or see how buildings located at Otterbein could be used.

The idea behind the facility is to build an arts center that is available to the region with a focus on Warren County, Cunningham said.

“We have studied this issue across the region. The board is determined not to duplicate what is going on with other art venues, but to have something that will add value,” Cunningham said.

Kingswood Park, a former 110-acre golf course owned by and located in Deerfield Twp. and the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon were the other locations considered for the arts center.

“We are very happy that Otterbein can be a part of the future growth of Warren County and the region. We are eager to work with the board to provide a valuable resource for residents of the area and to have our vision for the future move closer to a reality,” Otterbein President/CEO, Jill C. Hreben said in a release.

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Is this a "who you know" decision? The most Western side of Warren County makes the usual sense that many of the other decisions made by the Warren Cty. Commissioners. The population center is not located at the almighty Otterbein facility.
The Otterbein residents are most certainly counted on for their votes for certain people at election time. Usually absentee. Favor for favor?
Ever wonder how 90 year old bed ridden people manage to mark their ballots. Remind you of ACORN?

Lucy
12:22 PM, 9/22/2009

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What's the cross burning comment supposed to mean?

J.D.
12:15 AM, 9/19/2009

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"Art in Warren Co? Wouldn't that be a burning cross?"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Actually, I was betting on finger painting.

jacob
11:41 PM, 9/18/2009

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You spent how much money to reach your foregone conclusion to put this at Otterbein, who just happened to be a major funder of your study? Let's be transparent and call it the Otterbein Arts Center instead of the Warren County Arts Center. I'm sure glad you didn't try the dumb of idea of putting this in a business district to attract economic development!

Pablo
8:57 PM, 9/18/2009

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obviously you dont get out much in warren cty. you should experience the arts that are already here. theater, museum, symphony, art galleries ...they're great...

ann
8:34 PM, 9/18/2009

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