MEDINA — Medina Creative Housing wants to restore a city-owned house and dilapidated barn into a gift shop, snack shop, cafe and bike rental.

The proposal is on the agenda of City Council’s Finance Committee meeting tonight.

Medina City Council will discuss a plan from Medina Creative Housing to turn the city-owned house and barn at 406 S. Broadway St. into a gift shop, cafe and bike rental. (GAZETTE PHOTO BY KIERA MANION-FISCHER)

Medina Creative Housing is a nonprofit that provides housing and employment to people with disabilities. The group already operates a variety of enterprises, including coffee roasting, lettuce growing, property maintenance and most recently a dog day care and grooming service.

Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty, executive director of Medina Creative Housing, is enthusiastic about cooperating with the city on the project.

“We’re excited about the potential partnership and look forward to discussing it,” DePasquale-Hagerty said Sunday.

Her organization plans to apply for a grant to improve the house as well as the barn.

Medina Mayor Dennis Hanwell wrote DePasquale-Hagerty a letter supporting the project. He said the “proposal for a bike rental and cafe/food service facility fits well within the city’s desire to provide amenities adjacent to the trail.”

The city bought the house and barn, at 406 S. Broadway St., from Washington Properties about a year ago for $95,690.

The property was needed to complete the extension of the Roscoe Ewing trail from Guilford Boulevard along Champion Creek.

Plans call for building a parking lot close to where the trail comes out on South Broadway Street.

But the barn was expected to be torn down.

Councilman Bill Lamb, at-large, protested razing the barn, arguing it had historical value as the only example of a “bank barn” — a barn built into the side of hill — within the city limits.

Lamb cheered the Creative Housing proposal.

“It’s a great resolution of how to use the property and how to save the buildings,” Lamb said.

The finance committee will begin at 5 p.m. in the multipurpose room at Medina City Hall, 132 N. Elmwood Ave.

Contact reporter Kiera Manion-Fischer at (330) 721-4049 or kfischer@medina-gazette.com.