Historic Sullivan Building restoration gets state grant; reopening planned for 2023

NEWARK — Restoration of the historic Sullivan Building, a "jewel box" bank building designed by renowned Chicago architect Louis Sullivan more than a century ago, will reopen in late 2023, seven years after the work began.

The Licking County Foundation recently received a $19,000 grant from the Ohio History Fund to assist with the first- and second-floor restoration of the building on the corner of West Main and Third streets in downtown Newark. The Licking County Foundation was one of 18 organizations statewide that received a grant from the Ohio History Fund.

The building was empty for several years before its owner, Stephen Jones, gifted it to the Licking County Foundation in December 2013. The three-story structure served as a bank, jewelry store, butcher shop and ice cream store, which closed in 2007.

"Our vision has always been some sort of public space where the community can come and be inspired by the brilliance of Sullivan," Licking County Foundation Director Connie Hawk said in 2016, when the restoration plans were first unveiled.

The hand-painted murals in the former Old Home Building Association Company structure were finished just before the building opened in 1915. It was the sixth of eight small Midwest “jewel box” bank buildings Sullivan designed.

“The Licking County Foundation is extremely grateful to the Ohio History Fund, not only for this generous support to help bring our murals back to life, but also for being counted among other outstanding projects improving communities across Ohio,” Hawk said.

Hawk announced in 2016 the foundation would begin work on the basement of the building, which stretched underneath sidewalks, in conjunction with Newark's downtown sewer separation project. Next, she said, would come restoration of the first and second floors for new occupant Explore Licking County, the area's convention and visitors bureau.

In 2016, it was anticipated Explore Licking County would move into the historic building in 2018. Despite the delays, including the last two years of COVID, Hawk remains upbeat and focused on the third and final phase of the project, a $6.1 million undertaking.

“It's been a marathon project," Hawk said. "We knew that up front when we accepted the building as a gift. This has been a truly remarkable journey for all of us. We learn new things all the time. It’s just the icing on the cake, getting this last part done.”

The Sullivan Building rehabilitation in 2016 began in the 2,900-square-foot basement. New structural steel was installed, metal decking was placed on top of steel beams, a concrete slab was set over the top, then 7 inches of insulation and 4 inches of a concrete sidewalk were put in place.

Then came the exterior work, which began in May 2019 and finished in 2021. The work restored the facade, including the intricate terra cotta, art-glass windows and mosaics, and installed new doors, lower-level windows, roof and facade illumination.

Now, it's time for the interior work, including the adjacent LeFevre Foundation Annex, which will provide access to all three levels of the Sullivan building. The facade of the historic annex building will remain, but another floor will be added for an elevator and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant stairs.

“It will be the first time this building will be fully accessible to everyone," Hawk said.

The foundation seeks to raise an additional $3 million to finish the $10.2 million project. The community has invested $4.1 million thus far to develop a comprehensive preservation master plan, rehabilitate the basement, purchase the annex building and restore the exterior.

Funds will be used to repair or replace plaster, using methods and materials consistent with historic preservation, as part of the restoration and rehabilitation of the building’s signature hand-stenciled murals.

The 1,100-square foot first floor will be a welcome center, with the space used for exhibits and special occasions, and possibly rented to organizations for meetings and events. The second floor will house the Explore Licking County offices.

The basement, which is twice as large as the first floor, will house a visitor center, public restrooms, storage area, and catering station for caterers to stage during events.

Dan Moder, director of Explore Licking County, looks forward to the move from the bureau's current office down the street at 5 S. Third St., where it has been more than four years since leaving its home at the Newark Earthworks State Memorial site on Hebron Road.

“The location is great," Moder said of being downtown. We’re enjoying being here, but we're always anxious to move into Sullivan.”

Moder said after the move into the Sullivan Building, Explore Licking County may add a fifth person to its staff to work on programming, oversee the public space and a volunteer force that might provide assistance.

“I think we have a great story to tell, and we’ll keep telling it," Moder said.

Explore Licking County, which was devastated by COVID and laid off all its staff, is back and ready for business. The visitor bureau gets its funding from the county's bed taxes from hotels.

“We’ve been able to kind of get back to normal," Moder said. "I think we’re seeing hotels returning back to some pre-pandemic levels.

"Spring is always the big opening day. We’re definitely seeing increased foot traffic. Folks do come in and gather up information. Friday evening, it was crazy down here. It was good to see people out and about. Every parking space was taken.”

For more information about the project or to make a contribution to the Sullivan’s “On the Old Home Stretch” challenge campaign, visit https://bit.ly/SullivanChallenge or contact Hawk at (740) 349-3863, ext. 105, or Connie@thelcfoundation.org.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-973-4539

Twitter: @kmallett1958