The Grove City Planning Commission voted to recommend city council approve a certificate of appropriateness allowing demolition of multiple structures associated with the Broadway Live project, while directing continued review of an identified historic property at 3306 Columbus Street.

City staff said a preliminary development plan for Broadway Live (developer Axiom Ventures) was approved in January 2025 and the demolition request is intended to remove deteriorated structures and asphalt parking lots to prepare the site for future development. Staff reported a total of nine structures are proposed for demolition and noted that a February 2008 town-center plan included a National Register of Historic Places evaluation; of the nine structures, only the building at 3306 Columbus Street was flagged as having significant historic architecture and will require further discussion before final disposition.

Tim Kaskuski, identified as the applicant and representing Axiom Ventures, told commissioners the developer has begun abatement work and hopes to complete demolition in July or August. Kaskuski said the developer started abatement about a month earlier and “started abatement this week actually in order to be able to take them down.” He added that most tenants have been given notice and the buildings should be vacant by the end of the month. Kaskuski said the team remains open to preserving or adapting 3952 Broadway (the transcript uses a similar number) but that timing is important for their construction schedule.

Public commenters urged care in salvaging historically valuable materials. Linda Lewis, speaking for local preservation interests, said members of the historical society previously observed painted timbers in the old Lutheran church on the site and asked that anything significant be salvaged rather than leveled. Lewis said a letter to the historical society dated April 17 from the developer indicated winter damage had made the structure unsalvageable; she asked the city and developer to preserve any salvageable elements.

Neighbor Carol Hall reported recent activity at the property, noting windows and doors were being removed and asking why the building was being boarded; the applicant explained an asbestos assessment required remediation of window glazing and that boards were installed for security during abatement.

Kaskuski and city staff described the condition of one building at 3306 Columbus Street as mixed: an older wood structure with components that may be structurally sound but with interior water damage and mold after flooding between late December and February–March. Kaskuski cited an $11,500 water bill tied to that flooding and said many finishes are degraded. He and city staff said they have walked the site with consultants and an architect is evaluating whether parts of the building or its materials can be saved; staff said that evaluation has not been finalized.

A motion to approve the certificate of appropriateness with the staff-recommended stipulation carried on a roll-call vote with Chair Oster, Mr. Farnsworth, Mr. Titus, Mr. Roach and Ms. Wemmlinger voting yes (5–0). The staff-recommended stipulation requires continued evaluation of 3306 Columbus Street and further discussion before the city finalizes whether that structure should be preserved or whether salvageable materials should be removed prior to demolition.

The developer stated a two-phase demolition approach: Phase 1 would remove all structures and pavement except for 3952 Broadway, and Phase 2 would address 3952 Broadway if later determined necessary. The applicant said abatement for asbestos in window glazing is underway and that boarding the windows was necessary for security while decisions continue. City staff said they will continue to work with the applicant and consultants to complete a structural and historic assessment and to coordinate any salvage activities, but no final preservation decision was reached at the Planning Commission meeting.

The recommendation will be forwarded to city council for final action; the applicant requested a timely city decision to avoid delays to its summer demolition schedule.