By BG INDEPENDENT NEWS
The community organizations that occupy the former Huntington Bank on South Main Street in downtown Bowling Green are moving to a new location.
The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, which now also serves as the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bowling Green Economic Development, The Downtown Bowling Green Special Improvement District and The Downtown Foundation will open in new offices at 221 S. Church St. on Feb. 1.
Welcome BG, which is currently using office space through Bowling Green Economic Development, will have its own space in the new location.
The move comes after Mauer Rentals purchased the building at 130 S. Main St. from the city.
The city had purchased what is called the Four Corners building for $632,000 in 2019 from Huntington Bank, and sold it to Maurer Rentals for $632,000 on Nov. 17.
The new location is also owned by Huntington. The office space was originally built as the corporate headquarters for Sky Bank.
“This new location will give us the opportunity to not only share space, but to collaborate, share resources and staff and serve our community.” Mary Hinkelman, executive director, of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce was quoted as saying in a press release issued this morning (Jan.4).
The organizations said they began looking for new space when they learned the city was trying to sell the building.
“All of the directors agreed that we wanted to stay together because the Four Corners Center model has proven itself. Staying Downtown was important to all of us.” said Kati Thompson, executive director of Bowling Green Economic Development, in the release.
When the building was sold to Bob Maurer, the city discussed provisions for the chamber, economic development and downtown offices to stay in the Four Corners building.
Mayor Mike Aspacher said the city’s goal was to at least create the opportunity for the organizations to stay in the Four Corners building.
“I do believe there is value in them staying together in a place,” Aspacher said earlier this month.
“We’re going to let those groups control their situations,” he said. “The city is not in a position to dictate.”
The organizations had been in the Four Corners Center for five years. This allowed the organizations to share space for the first time.
The press release stated that the organizations decided to move because it was “the most fiscally responsible decision.” The new location meets the space needs of the organizations.
Tony Vetter, director of Downtown Bowling Green S.I.D., said the Maurer family has “been very helpful.”
“We can’t thank them enough,” Vetter is quoted as saying in the news release. “The Maurer family has always been very pro BG and we can’t wait to see how they transform this historic building and making downtown a better place.”
The city’s purchase in 2019 covered multiple properties. One parcel is at 119 S. Church St., located just south of the police station. The former Huntington Bank Branch location has been closed for several years, but has drive-up ATM units. The city is interested in building restrooms there that will serve those using Wooster Green as well as visitors to the downtown area.
In addition, the location has been eyed by the city for years as property that could be used to expand the police station. While there are no immediate plans for an expansion, the addition of an improved safety dispatch center is one of the city’s long-term capital plans.
The other properties included a nearby parking area behind Ben’s and the building at 130 S. Main St. – the current home of the Four Corners Center.
While city officials said in 2019 that they were not interested in owning the Four Corners Center building, they recognized the community value of that site. Located there are the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown BG, and Economic Development office. The lease for that building expired on Dec. 5, 2020.
In 2019, the plan was for the city to sell that building prior to its lease expiring, with a provision that the Four Corners Center be given a lease arrangement for the building with a rental amount set.
