#2
Making the Case for Support of the Fire Station/Village Hall Projects, Part 2
Earlier this month, I began making the case for the new Fire Facility and Village Hall projects. In this edition, I will continue outlining the reasons these investments are important to the long-term strength, safety, and vitality of Orange Village. Both projects provide an opportunity to create modern, efficient, and lasting public facilities capable of serving our community for generations.The first article introduced the projects. This edition focuses on Orange Village’s history, changing demographics, and anticipated future growth.
Orange Village Then and Now
Orange Village Hall was planned in 1993 and opened in 1995. Since then, the community has experienced significant residential, commercial, and institutional growth.
In 2000, the Village had a population of 3,236, with 1,236 residences, and a median age of 42.4. There were 537 residents age 65 and older. By the 2020 Census, the population had increased to 3,421, with 1,468 residences. The median age had risen to 47.5, and the number of residents age 65 and older had increased to 966.
During this period, Orange Village also experienced major economic and development milestones. The Chagrin Highlands Joint Economic Development District was established in 1998, followed by construction of the I-271/Harvard interchange in 2000. Ahuja Medical Center opened in 2011, Pinecrest was approved in 2013 and opened in 2018, and the Omni Living Well Collection was approved in 2023 and is now under construction. Lakes of Orange began welcoming residents around 2015–16, while Orange Place hotels and restaurants were developed in the early 2000s.
Planned Future Growth
Additional development could bring approximately 696 new homes and 1,400 residents to Orange Village. Projects include:
- Lakes of Orange: 23 homes and approximately 48 residents.
- The Canyons at Omni: 132 homes and approximately 274 residents.
- Omni Active Adult Community: 100 units and approximately 100 residents.
- Romano-Congemi property: approximately 40 homes and 120 residents.
- Omni commercial development: restaurants, retail, and professional buildings, with occupancy anticipated in 2027.
- Residences of Walnut Hills (Pinecrest North): 395 homes and approximately 830 residents.
- New Song Church redevelopment: six homes and approximately 24 residents.
If fully realized, these developments would bring the Village’s population to approximately 4,821—just below the threshold for becoming a city. Because much of this growth will occur after the 2030 Census, any consideration of city status would likely not occur until after the 2040 Census.
This growth is also shifting the population center of Orange Village toward the west and north, reinforcing the need to thoughtfully plan for the community’s future public-service needs.
In the next edition, I will address the need for new Fire, Police, Administration, and community facilities; the history and findings of prior Village Hall expansion studies; the proposed two-building solution; site location and land acquisition; along with other opportunities and community benefits.
These projects represent an investment in the long-term strength, safety, and vitality of Orange Village—providing modern public facilities to serve our community for generations.
Stay tuned for more information as we take a closer look at the needs, opportunities, and long-term benefits of these important projects.
#1
Making the Case for Support of the Fire Station-Village Hall Projects, Part 1
Enlisting community support for the replacement of our fire facility and renovation of Village Hall will require education and open communication so residents understand the importance of this endeavor. The question before us is not simply whether new facilities are needed. It is whether we are willing to make the thoughtful, strategic investment necessary to ensure that our community has the facilities it needs to remain safe, well-served, and positioned for the future. Over the next several editions of our e-news, we will provide the background and information residents need to make an informed decision about supporting these important projects.
Village Hall has served us well for three decades, but it was built to standards that no longer meet today’s needs. Our fire facility was originally designed for a volunteer department and lacks adequate residential, training, and decontamination space. The police facility also faces significant space and functionality limitations, including insufficient indoor vehicle storage, evidence areas, secure armory space, training rooms, and other critical facilities. While housing these departments under one roof has been convenient, our current and future needs require a different approach.
Since 2021, the Village has explored multiple strategies to renovate, expand, and modify the existing Village Hall to create a comprehensive facility capable of serving the community for the next 30–50 years. Two renovation and expansion plans were pursued, followed by studies examining a two-facility solution. After extensive evaluation, the studies demonstrated that continued modification of the existing facility would not provide a viable long-term solution. With this in mind, the Village made the decision to move forward with a two-facility approach.
Over the next several editions, we will provide information on:
- Orange Village’s history, demographics, and future growth
- The need for new Fire Department, Police Department, Administration, and community
- The history and findings of the Village Hall expansion studies
- The two-building solution and how it addresses our long-term needs
- Site location and land acquisition
- Other considerations, opportunities, and community benefits
The Fire Facility and Village Hall projects represent investments in the long-term strength, safety, and vitality of our community. Both projects provide an opportunity for modern, efficient, and lasting public facilities that can serve Orange Village for generations.
Stay tuned for more information as we take a closer look at the needs, opportunities, and long-term benefits of these important projects.
New Fire Station Update – 3/2026
Building for our Future
With an eye to the future, we are looking into replacing our fire station with a new state of the art facility and renovations of the Village Hall to accommodate the police, administration, and community that will serve the Village for the next 30 years. In that regard, I wish to share with residents the motives, objectives, strategy, and the process to achieve this goal.
The current Village Hall facility was designed and built thirty years ago based upon the demands of the community at that time. It was undersized in many respects and did not foresee a future where we would have both male and female firefighters and police officers. At the time of its inception, we had a volunteer fire department and no need for dormitory, exercise, training spaces, and a working kitchen. Therefore,
in 2022, under Mayor Mulcahy, we began to look at how we might renovate and expand the Village Hall facility to meet current and future needs for the Village. A plan was produced and budget estimates created. Subsequently, we engaged an architect to formalize the project and provide accurate cost estimates.
With that information, the Village considered its options and came to the realization that the money we would spend for the expansion and renovation would not adequately serve the Village. We could spend the money and find ourselves having created a “band-aid” solution. Therefore, we started to consider a more practical arrangement that would produce a new fire station and then a renovated Village Hall that moves the police facilities into the existing fire area. In deciding to take this route, we felt it essential to have a cost benefit study by the fire department both to determine the best location for a new facility and to identify the requirements for the new building.
As the Village is growing and the population center is moving northwest with many of the fire calls and all the runs to Ahuja Medical Center, a location in the area of Harvard and Brainard is a logical location. The Village was afforded an opportunity to purchase a two-acre parcel from the Western Reserve Land Conservancy at its appraised value and secure the ability to construct the facility.
With a site in place, we are now proceeding to the next steps which include: architect selection and design of both the fire station and Village Hall renovations. The process will include public input and involvement. The objective is to develop plans, calculate accurate cost estimates, establish an accurate budget plan, and determine the project delivery method. To this end, we have enlisted local architects to be considered for the projects and have evaluated their submissions. Council will interview and evaluate the firms that the review committee recommended.
In completing the steps noted, we will then be able to determine how best to finance the project and prepare a bond issue to put before the voters. We are excited to build for our future and look forward to pursuing it together.
All the Best,
Judson Kline, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Mayor