The AUD slated for 2023 opening

A piece of Richmond’s past is poised to become a key part of its future in 2023, as the much-awaited reopening of the AUD is anticipated to take place.

“We will probably do a grand opening event, and then after the grand opening, the first major event we anticipate that will be held there is the chili cookoff,” Richmond City Manager Jon Moore said. “It is usually the first Saturday, Feb. 4. We are looking at what other types of events we can have that weekend to showcase it.”

The AUD, or Roosevelt Civic Auditorium, became Richmond city property on Oct. 4, 2021, after it was transferred by the Richmond Community Schools Board of Education for the price of $1. The AUD is a 13,000-square-foot, twostory building located at 68931 Main St. in Richmond. The deal also included the adjacent garage property, which is 0.531 acres of land located south of Division Road, west of Main Street, at 35620 Division Road.

The AUD was constructed under President Franklin Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration in the 1930s to provide jobs during the Great Depression. The building has served multiple purposes over time, and required the city to make multiple renovations. The city experienced a setback in its renovations plans in late August 2022 due to a gustnado, or small whirlwind that forms as an outgrowth of thunderstorm outflows. Moore said a new roof, new flooring, painting, outside work and shelter over an outside stairway were among items done before the storm.

“And then, unfortunately, we had the winds come through and we had to redo some of the roofing and brickwork on the south side of the building, due to the winds. If it had not been for the winds, we would have been able to open the building in 2022,” Moore said. “Due to the damage that is going to be 2023, to get the building open. All of the council and the administration and the recreation department are looking forward to having the building opened.”

On Dec. 5, the Richmond City Council approved a new hot water heater for the historic building. On Dec. 7, Moore said mason work has been completed at the AUD with the exception of window openings.

Moore also previously provided estimates of expenses at the AUD up to that date, which he said were funded via general fund, Tax Increment Finance Authority and insurance coverage for wind damage:

• Parking lot renovation and expansion: about $200,000.

• Roof replacement: about $148,000.

• Masonry repairs: about $18,773.

• Painting: about

$14,344.

• Boiler maintenance: about $8,000.

• Water heater replacement: about $8,000.

• Heat pumps purchase: about $8,500.

• Insurance claim to date due to wind, masonry about $82,613 covered by insurance.

On Dec. 27, Moore said the city is working with its recreation board to create policies, pricing and guidelines for the public to be able to rent the building for events. He anticipated this will come before the city council early in 2023.

Some last minute type of work on the AUD at present is the roof over the stands and some window work on the south side.

“I know (the council wants) to continue to work together as they always have on a lot of infrastructure projects this year,” Moore said. “So the street projects going on this year are reconstruction of Diane Lane from Forest down to where Richmond, West Richmond subdivision starts. We also will be reconstructing Stone Street from Division Road to Madison.”

Moore said a major section of watermain will also be replaced as part of that reconstruction project, and the watermain will be an 8-inch diameter instead of the current 4-inch diameter.

“It was an older main and so it was starting to have a significant break history,” Moore said, adding that the sewer main remains in good shape and that the new road will go in over a new watermain.

Another potential project upcoming for the city is bidding out an extension of the current DPW barn, according to Moore. He said that the existing older barn between where equipment is stored and a radio tower will be taken down, and the existing pole barn will be extended.

“And then we are working with the county to get some federal grant money to do an asphalt overlay on 33 Mile Road,” Moore said. “The grant money is available, we are just actually going through the paperwork process and the engineering part of the process in order to qualify for the money. There is actually money set aside for roads like this.”