City Council to review proposed fees for renovated Pioneer Hall and Ashland Community Center

By Damian Mann for Ashland.news

The Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday recommended rental rates to the City Council for the Ashland Community Center and Pioneer Hall for their upcoming reopening after extensive remodeling.

The recommended rates would cover administrative costs, cleanup and utilities, but wouldn’t provide dollars for long-term maintenance such as a broken air conditioning system or plumbing issues, according to Rocky Houston, director of Parks & Recreation.

The two buildings, located next to each other on Winburn Way and across the street from Lithia Park, have been closed since 2018 after being “red-tagged” because of structural problems.

After $2.1 million total in repairs to both buildings, historic Pioneer Hall’s restoration is finished, and the contractor hopes to have the Community Center completed in late September, according to Houston.

The new rates start at $125 for the first hour for either building. The rates will require approval from the council, which is expected to review the proposal on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The cost to rent would go down depending on the frequency of the rental during a given year by a group or organization.

Houston said the city is in the process of ordering commercial tables, chairs, and other fixtures for use in the buildings, which might take time depending on supply-chain issues.

The city will also set up an online portal to make it easier to rent and sign rental agreements for the use of the buildings.
As a result, Houston said he’s projecting early 2026 at the latest when the buildings would be available for rental, though it could be earlier if all the pieces fall into place.

The commission had earlier proposed new rates for the buildings, which included a separate fee for cleanup, but they were rejected by the council.

The previous fee proposal — rejected by the council — was a flat rate of $80 on weekdays and $120 on weekends at Pioneer Hall, and $80 on weekdays and $150 at the Community Center. There was also a cleaning fee.

The new proposed fees include cleanup costs and offer a sliding scale depending on how often a group or organization would rent during the year.

Both the Community Center and Pioneer Hall would be $125 for the first hour for those renting 1 to 5 times a year; $80 for the first hour for those renting 6 to 11 times a year; and $65 for the first hour for those renting 12 or more times a year. An additional $25 would be charged for each additional hour at Pioneer Hall, and each additional hour at the Community Center would be $35.

On weekends or holidays, Pioneer Hall’s rental would be a flat $128 the first hour and $40 for each additional hour; and the Community Center would be $125 an hour and $40 for each additional hour.

The Community Center also has a side room that would have a different rental rate. It would be a flat rate of $40 for the first hour, with $28 for each additional hour for those renting five or fewer times a year, $20 for each additional hour for those renting 6-11 times a year, and $18 for each additional hour for those renting 12 or more times a year. Weekend or holiday rates would be a flat $80 for the first hour and $40 for each additional hour.

Parks Commissioner Mike Gardiner, who made the motion to approve the recommended rates, said he hoped that the city could figure out a way to remove any obstacles to rent the two buildings. He said the new rate structure appears to address previous objections.

“I think that people are coming around that the rates are reasonable,” Gardiner said.

Commissioner Dan Weiner said, “For five years of remodeling, and a prime location, the rates are fair.”

Kyle Asher, who formerly rented the Community Center for dance lessons, was the only resident to speak on the proposed rates.

“The rates — I’m happy with where they are,” he said.

Pioneer Hall was built in 1921 and was used by pioneers of Jackson County, who referred to themselves as “Native Sons and Daughters.”

The building was maintained by the American Legion Guy T. Applewhite Post 14. By 1986, the legion could no longer afford the cost of maintaining the facility and handed the duties over to the city.

The 1922 Community Center, formerly known as the Ashland Women’s Civic Improvement Club, later became home for the Ashland Parks & Recreation Department.

Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at dmannnews@gmail.com.