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Then
Restoring Piqua’s Treasure is a project of great implication to the city and citizens of Piqua. The Fort Piqua Hotel opened its doors in 1891 on High Street in downtown Piqua. Since then it has been a major focal point of the Piqua community, not only because of its dominating size and exquisite architecture, but also because of the many important local historical events that have occurred within the building.
The Fort Piqua Hotel has hosted presidents, governors and senators and its balconies have been the stage for such well-known politicians as Teddy Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.
The local Civic Rights Movement took a major step forward in ending discrimination when African-American citizens were served food at the “bus stop lunch counter.” During the 1970’s, Vietnam draftees waited in the hotel lobby for buses that would take them to the military induction center in Cincinnati.
The five-story Richardson Romanesque building was designed by Columbus architect J.W. Yost and is a grand example of his work. Since its construction the building has primarily been used for hotel but it has also housed retail shops, offices, and numerous businesses. |
Now
The Fort Piqua Hotel is the focal point of Piqua’s downtown and this integral part of our downtown will soon enjoy a re-birth. In the near future this now abandoned building will once again be filled with people and become the hub of activity in the center of our city.
In addition to housing the Flesh Public Library the building will also be the home of a breathtaking banquet room whose beauty and character will be unparalleled by any in the area. Along with the primary tenants there will be two retail spaces located on the ground floor.
Through the leadership of the City of Piqua and a dedicated group of volunteers this building will once again be a source of pride in our community.
Individuals, families and corporations can play a meaningful role in bringing the project an important step closer to fruition.
The money raised by this program will be used directly for the restoration of the building, the purchase of much needed furniture, fixtures and equipment for the library and the creation of an endowment for the future maintenance on the building. Future generations of Piqua residents will be able to see your commitment to this community and this project. All contributions to this project are fully deductible in accordance with federal tax laws.
Without question the cost of preservation and restoration of the Fort Piqua Hotel is an expensive feat. The financing for this project is complex and creative with every effort made not to burden the finances of the city or its citizens. By finding and utilizing a funding mechanism called New Market Tax Credits and Historic Tax Credits we are able to leverage our local resources to bring extensive capital and investment to the project.
The Flesh Public Library is in desperate need of a new home. Currently, the library has space restraints that restrict its overall services to the patrons, especially in the areas of computer technology, tutoring and literacy programming. Furthermore, it is very difficult to negotiate the library if a patron has any type of disability. By relocating the library our citizens will have the most up-to-date access to information in all venues. Furthermore the library will be able to expand its scope of services to the community both educationally and culturally.
The impact of this project will go far beyond the library - economic development will also be impacted by the restoration of the Fort Piqua Hotel. It will show prospective industry and commercial ventures that we are a community on the rise and that entities within the community can work together to bring a complex project to fruition. By investing in ourselves we will show outsiders that we believe we are worthy of their investment. |
