Montgomery County has regained control of Memorial Hall after the Montgomery County Community Improvement Corporation returned the property by conveyance deed. The Board of County Commissioners accepted that deed during its Tuesday meeting, according to the county's Sept. 29, 2026, announcement.
The county said earlier work to find a private developer or organization to buy the historic venue yielded no proposals. The CIC had received the building under a transfer approved in September 2025, and it arranged tours while searching for an interested party. Although that effort did not produce a new use, the county said it helped shape the next phase.
A request for qualifications has now been issued to hire an architect. That professional would assess the building's needs and prepare a preliminary design for a possible new purpose.
One possibility under review is moving Montgomery County Veterans Services out of leased space at Elizabeth Place on S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd. and into Memorial Hall. The county pays about $154,000 per year for that lease. Officials say a successful move could lower those costs and give the historic structure a veterans-focused role, but no relocation decision has been made.
Commission President Carolyn Rice said the goal is a meaningful future that respects Memorial Hall's history and serves residents. County Administrator Michael Colbert said the county sees a chance to explore a use that benefits the community for years. The architect's review will determine whether the building can house veterans services and what upgrades would be required.
The county reported investing more than $800,000 since 2023 in preservation work, such as a new roof, two boilers, a fire panel upgrade and a stage refinishing. It also partnered with Dayton History on a long-term plan for the building's artwork.