Whitehall may sell 2.5 acres of Community Park for Heartland Bank expansion

WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- Whitehall's Community Park may lose a few acres to Heartland Bank's headquarters, pending city council approval.

The ordinance would authorize Mayor Michael Bivens to sell about 2.4 acres of Community Park to Heartland Bank for an expansion. Heartland Bank has been a part of Whitehall's city makeup since 2016, when the bank announced it would relocate its corporate headquarters there.

"Heartland Bank is a true community partner to the City of Whitehall, and we are excited that it desires to grow its headquarters in our city," Bivens said.

In building its 60,000-square-foot headquarters, Heartland Bank moved in next door to the Community Park, bringing dozens of jobs to the neighborhood. The headquarters opened in March 2018, and replaced a previous lease with the Four Seasons Golf Center. According to a post from the city's social media, Whitehall's Community Park gained around 18 acres in choosing to lease with Heartland instead.

The gained acres follow a history of corporate hospitality toward the space. Aerospace corporation Rockwell International was closing its Columbus facility. In its departure, it gave Whitehall an 80-acre park originally built for its employees in 1989, according to Franklin County Auditor records.

Now, if approved by City Council, Whitehall will lose some of those acres to Heartland Bank's expansion. Bivens said the purchase agreement was negotiated in September 2023 but did not yet respond to questions as to why the move was delayed until now. He said the purchase agreement extends for 10 years and would allow Heartland enough space to add up to 90,000 square feet of office space, adding he did not know building plans.

"It is my understanding that no construction is planned, but we hope that residents continue to embrace the expansion of Heartland Bank as the City moves forward," Bivens said.

For decades, Whitehall citizens enjoyed the former Rockwell company softball fields, athletic buildings and outdoor space. Starting in 2014, Whitehall partnered with engineering design firm EMH&T to create a plan to improve the space. The team revitalized Community Park so successfully that it received the 2020 Ohio Parks and Recreation Association Governor’s Award, its top honor with just one recipient each year.

Bivens said the city will get $40,000 for the sale, which will be used to cover the cost of relocating a park trail. Heartland's headquarters are situated within the corner of Community Park, making it nearly impossible to expand adjacently without moving into the park.

The expansion comes alongside a possible sale of the company to German American Bank, announced in July. According to a press release, Heartland Bank will merge with German American, and the organization will operate under a new co-branded name in Ohio. The deal is expected to close in early 2025.