TIFFIN, OH (WTOL) - The planned renovation of Heidelberg University's historic France Residence Hall was awarded $1.5 million toward the $7.5 million project on Wednesday.
The Ohio Development Services Agency gave the university the $1.5 million in Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits.
Nearly a year ago in July 2017, Heidelberg received $1.2 million in federal historic tax credits, issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, for the project, which were contingent on receiving state tax credits.
This announcement is great news for the community.
It's only the second time that building restoration tax credits have come to Tiffin.
"We are so grateful for the outstanding support of our community partners, which was essential in our university securing these state historic tax credits," said Heidelberg President Rob Huntington. "Heidelberg University is extremely proud to be part of this collaborative effort with all of us working together to make our universities, our town, our county and ultimately, our entire community better for everyone."
Heidelberg was one of 31 regional projects that will receive historic tax credits in the most recent round of funding.
The Ohio Development Services Agency approved $30.2 million in credits for 13 communities, including about $1.71 million for two projects in Tiffin.
In addition to the France Hall project, Monument Properties is to receive a tax credit of nearly $250,000 to renovate three residential buildings in the Fort Ball-Railroad Area Historic District.
When the renovation project is complete, France Hall will play a major role in engaging women with new, innovative living, learning and leadership opportunities, while supporting Heidelberg's academic programs.
The new France Hall will provide residential space for approximately 70 women students and private apartments for two female faculty members.
Other features include office space for The Patricia Adams Lecture Series and other campus women's leadership initiatives, space for all five of Heidelberg's women's Greek organizations, community outreach space, and renovations to the building's Great Hall to create more space for activities and events.
It is a major element in Heidelberg's Residential Living Plan Vision.
To date, private donors have committed more than $3.1 million toward the project.
"France Hall, in its current configuration and condition, no longer meets the needs of our contemporary women students," Huntington said. "Yet, we recognize the importance of preserving its heritage. The time has come to bring France Hall into the 21st century and transform it into a compelling, exciting and attractive facility for the campus and the community."
The project has tremendous potential, Huntington added, because of unique opportunities to bring together the university community with the broader Tiffin community.
"This project will put a new and different face on what residential living can look like at Heidelberg," he said. "It will integrate academic and co-curricular programs, personal and professional domains, and campus and community circles into a rich and powerful total undergraduate experience for our women students, as well as for male students when special events are hosted in France. We look forward to starting this construction work soon!"
France Hall was constructed in 1925 and is named in recognition of Luella Blackwell France, a benefactor of the university.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It has never undergone a major renovation in its 92-year history.
