Heritage Ohio presents the Best Commercial Rehabilitation Award to those who use the proper preservation techniques to complete a total building rehabilitation. This year’s winner of the Best Commercial Rehabilitation – Large Community is the Champion Paper Mill project in Hamilton, completed by Spooky Nook Sports and the City of Hamilton.
Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill is one of the largest preservation projects in Southwest Ohio and the largest private investment in the City of Hamilton in decades. The project is an adaptive reuse of a former industrial paper mill into a 1-million square foot indoor and outdoor sports facility, gymnasium, convention center, and hotel space. It is the largest indoor sports facility in North America. Spooky Nook has become a major catalyzing force toward the revitalization and reinvestment effort in the urban core of Hamilton.
The overall project cost for Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill is $165 million. The multi-faceted, multi-million-dollar site was made in partnership with both private and public investors, such as the City of Hamilton and the State of Ohio.
The transformative use of Spooky Nook Sports echoes the legacy of Champion Mill as a driver of economic and residential development and regional draw to the City of Hamilton. Through a strong public-private partnership the restoration of the property will allow it to survive and continue to service Hamilton residents for many more years to come.