Canton accepts Civic Center land donation, creates new parking pact with ArtsinStark

Kelli Weir, Canton Repository
·2 min read
The city of Canton has operated the Canton Memorial Civic Center since 1951. The city will now own the land underneath.
The city of Canton has operated the Canton Memorial Civic Center since 1951. The city will now own the land underneath.

CANTON – The city of Canton will now own the land underneath the Canton Memorial Civic Center for the first time in the facility’s 73-year history.

Canton City Council agreed Monday to end its 90-year lease with the Stark County commissioners for the land underneath the Canton Memorial Civic Center and agreed to take over ownership of the four acres at 1101 Market Ave. N.

Council on Monday also ended its sublease with ArtsinStark for the city's use of the parking deck since the city will now own the ramp portion of the deck. The new operations and maintenance agreement, which still is being finalized, seeks to keep the same terms that were in the sublease with ArtsinStark retaining ownership of the main portion of the parking garage and continuing the maintenance of the shared drive between the Civic Center and the Cultural Center for the Arts.

Mayor William V. Sherer II said the land transfer and new agreement involve no additional funds and will not affect the Civic Center’s daily operations.

Stark County commissioners approved transferring the land to Canton on July 10. Canton had paid $480 a year to the county under the lease, which was approved in October 1949 and was set to expire in 2039.

Sherer said the land transfer and the new ArtsinStark operations and maintenance agreement will allow the city to move forward with its long-term renovation plans for the sports and entertainment facility.

The city already is spending roughly $2.5 million in federal pandemic relief funds to upgrade the Civic Center’s sound, lighting, plumbing, power, and heating and air conditioning systems.

The next phase of improvements is expected to include an expansion of the northside bathrooms. The city recently received $250,0000 in state capital funds that it intends to use for the bathroom project.

Council last month authorized spending $600,000 to purchase the next-door former Arby’s at 1125 Market Ave. N. Sherer said the purchase is expected to be finalized within a week. The city is planning to reuse or auction the restaurant equipment that remains inside the building and then demolish the building later this year.

Reach Canton Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton now owns land underneath the Canton Memorial Civic Center