The city of Columbiana will begin work to convert a former #1 Cochran dealership location at 21 E. Railroad St. to its future municipal headquarters. #1 Cochran announced Thursday that the dealership would vacate the property by Oct. 1, relocating to Boardman. (File photo)

COLUMBIANA — The rumors proved to be true.

Columbiana Cadillac Chevrolet will be relocated up the road to Boardman, once they vacate their current 21 E. Railroad St. location purchased by the city.

Officials made the announcement Thursday via their Facebook page that they are leaving Oct. 1.

Until their brand new showroom and service center is built, they will be serving customers at their #1 Cochran Buick GMC location where construction also will occur.

“Although the decision to relocate was not easy, it allows us to provide you with elevated amenities and an enhanced luxury sales experience,” their website notes.

Officials project that the new Cadillac showroom and service center will open in 2027.

The city of Columbiana purchased the Railroad Street property back in April and plans to convert it into a new municipal headquarters.

Emails to city officials regarding the announcement and their progress on plans went unanswered as of Friday afternoon.

In past city manager reports at council meetings, there have been references to a committee meeting regarding the new property with no specifics.

Currently, the city administrative operations are located at 28 W. Friend St., which they outgrew decades ago.

The purchase includes the main 11,688-square-foot dealership building, the Heritage House building across the street as well as a red building across the tracks that used to house the dealership’s paint shop.

Back in June, Columbiana city manager Lance Willard expressed the intent to bring in an engineer for reconfiguration of the dealership building, which will host the police department, administrative officers and council chambers.

Cochran apparently decided not to continue utilizing an option to lease the dealership building.

sujhelyi@mojonews.com