LIMA — How long it will be until Lima residents begin to see construction on the long-promised Rhodes State College Center of Health Science Education and Innovation will now be decided largely by the court system.
The city of Lima Law Department has filed multiple eminent domain claims to acquire the final parcels needed in the southeast quadrant of Town Square, with two claims filed last week in Allen County Common Pleas Court.
“About a month ago, we filed a friendly eminent domain action on the (JFM Builders Inc.) property,” Lima Mayor David Berger said. That claim would encompass 2 Town Square and 4 Town Square, located across South Main Street from Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center.
“We have been working for months to understand our options there,” Berger said. “The issue is that the property is owned by a defunct corporation, so we had to figure out the best way to get a clear title. We did finally determine, both in conversation with the individual involved and also his attorney, how we can do that. So that’s now moving ahead in a positive way.”
On Oct. 10, the city filed claims on parcels owned by Eleanor Baker, of Florida, Wesley Cleaves, of Centerville, and Jason Cleaves, of Lima. Those claims covered non-addressed vacant lots within the anticipated footprint of the new, $20 million facility.
“Those will now head to court and, ultimately, we’ll come out with having clear title to all the property,” Berger said.
For Rhodes State College President Debra McCurdy, the project is in waiting mode pending the outcome of the eminent domain court claims.
“We’re relying on the city to secure the property,” she said. “All the paperwork has been filed and we’ll be waiting for the outcome to come through the city.”
Once the legal proceedings are compete and the property has been acquired, work can then begin on securing an architect for the project, according to McCurdy.
“As soon as the property is secured, there will be some other transfers that need to happen, and then we’ll be able to work with the state to start looking at how we’re going to proceed with establishing the process for architects and design and moving forward,” she said.
At this point, there is no firm timetable for completing the eminent domain claims.
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