CHILLICOTHE – Heavy gold scissors sliced through a bright Adena-blue ribbon Monday afternoon to celebrate the grand reopening of the Carlisle building.
Hundreds gathered at the corner of Main and Paint streets on Monday to hear from those who have been involved in the project and take advantage of an opportunity to tour the newly renovated building.
The building is now home to more than 30 resident medical student apartments and nearly 7,000 square feet of office space for the Adena Health Foundation and other community-facing personnel.
“It’s a big day for all of us. … It’s a big day for the whole community,” Mark Shuter, president and CEO of Adena Health Systems, said during the dedication ceremony Monday.
Shuter said thousands of hours and almost as many people were involved in the five-year process of reopening of the building.
“The most exciting piece is the purpose,” Shuter said. “What I think is important about this is what our community can do with a shared vision and people working together.”
People were “just tired of the problem” the building had become after an intentionally set fire devastated the landmark downtown building on April 25, 2003, Shuter said.
During the ceremony, Mayor Jack Everson thanked the firefighters that fought the blazes that night to save the building.
Damage from the fire itself, water, and years of neglect after the fire posed a challenge to Michael Chesler, of the Chesler Group — the company that has spent years restoring the Carlisle. He called the damage to the building a “triple threat” but said it made him stronger, smarter and more diligent.
Calling the building an “icon of success,” Chesler said he knew the work his company did on the building would change the community forever.
“These projects always remind me of what my purpose is. Everyone has to figure out why they’re here. In my case, I’m lucky — I know why I’m here. I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do … fixing these buildings,” Chesler said, gesturing to the brick walls behind him.
Tours of the building, in addition to the ones given Monday after the ceremony, will be provided twice a month in the future, said Randy Davies, Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce CEO.
Take a Tour
Signing up for a tour of the Carlisle building can be done, beginning Tuesday, under the Events tab at adena.org.
From Chillicothe Gazette | October 20, 2015
