The sound of wedding bells may soon become more frequent in Uptowne Galion. That possibility was a key focus of Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Galion Port Authority, held in the Crawford County Chamber of Commerce meeting room on Harding Way West.
All board members—Eric Faulds, Debra Garverick, Chad Miller, Rod Staiger, and Brian Treisch—were in attendance.
The proposal, backed by business interests from Galion and a neighboring community, aims to transform the former Peace Lutheran Church building at the corner of South Market and East Walnut into a wedding and event venue. The church, vacated after the congregation ceased operations in July 2024, was donated to the Port Authority with the hope that it could be repurposed to benefit the community.
“I thought it was far enough down the road to present the idea to the full Board,” said Port Authority Director Mark Rantala, referencing his discussions with the prospective tenants since December. “They have done their due diligence,” he added. “I am impressed.”
Under the proposal, the building would initially serve as a wedding venue, with other event rentals phased in over time. A business plan presented to the board detailed initial renovations, estimated to cost between $200,000 and $250,000. Planned improvements include new flooring, air conditioning installation in the sanctuary, plaster repairs, painting, and upgraded lighting fixtures. While some interior spaces would be reconfigured, the overall structure would remain largely intact.
Revenue projections from similar venues in the region were shared:
- Everhart Wedding Center (Nevada, Wyandot County) generates $756,000 annually.
- Pickwick Place (near Bucyrus) earns $267,000 per year from wedding rentals alone.
- Four Seasons Barn (near Cardington) reports $442,250 in annual revenue.
It was estimated that the proposed Galion venue could generate $240,000 in its first year and $435,000 by its second year.
The proposed agreement would allow the Port Authority to retain ownership of the property while leasing it to the venue operator, with an option to purchase after five years.
Much of the discussion centered on financing options, including the potential use of Energy Special Improvement District (ESID) and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) funding. Some of these funds could support renovations to the building’s historic tower. These options would require approvals from the City of Galion, it was noted.
Additional topics covered included insurance, parking, and operational logistics.
Board members raised questions about the timeline and procedures for securing financial incentives, as well as cash flow projections for the venue’s first year before reaching profitability. While additional preservation-based financial incentives may be available, they were not discussed during the meeting.
As the board sought consensus, members generally agreed that more information was needed before making a final decision. Plans were made to revisit the proposal at the next Port Authority meeting for a more thorough discussion. While there was some discussion of reviewing the matter in executive session, such meetings are permissible only under specific limited exceptions.
On in other business, contracts were approved for the sale of two lots on the former Renschville property for housing development, and for a multi-year agreement for financial statement preparation. Also, Debra Garverick announced that she is stepping down from the body.
Image: 1831Galion
