ASHLAND — It’s a brand new year in Ashland County, and it’s looking to be a busy one for local construction crews. They have a full year ahead of them with a number of large public projects set for completion in 2023.
Some of these projects have been going on for years, some started recently, and some have yet to break ground. Read below for a recap of what the city and county are building this year.
Industrial Park Childcare Center
Local non-profit Foundations Community Childcare plans to build and open a childcare center off of Ford Drive by the end of the year.
According to the group’s draft operational budget, the facility will have spaces for 23 infants, 33 toddlers, 39 preschool-aged children and 36 school-aged children.
The group has raised $3.5 million of their $4.5 million goal and plans to break ground in the spring.
The idea for the childcare center came from a study the Ashland County Community Foundation Women’s Fund conducted in May 2021. They found that workers at the industrial park wanted more affordable childcare.
The organization is working with local governments in a public-private partnership to get the facility built.
Ashland County Dog Shelter
Another local nonprofit, Homeward Bound, has been raising money over the past few years to open a new dog shelter near the Ashland County Fairgrounds.
In August, the group presented a check for $600,000 to the Ashland County Commissioners that will go toward the project’s $1.5 million to $3 million price tag.
The new shelter will be around 8,000 square feet and boasts heated indoor and outdoor floors, an air cycling system, a kitchen for preparing dog food, easy access to the outdoors for Ashland’s pups, and more. County commissioner Denny Bittle described it as “the most modern dog shelter in the state”.
Work on the shelter was originally planned to wrap up in December, but supply chain issues pushed the completion date back into early 2023.
Schine’s Theatre
Since 2015, the Ashland Schine’s Theatre Organization has been working to restore the vintage movie theatre that has sat empty since 2009.
First it was set to be completed in March 2019. Then by the end of 2020. Then by July 2022. Now, its completion date is 2023.
Since the exterior was completed in December 2020, crews have focused on interior renovations that will cost around $3 million. Last month, they were working on the theatre’s stage and HVAC system.
When complete, the theatre will resemble its original 1942 form and host up to 532 patrons.
New Health Department Building
The Ashland County Health Department is looking to move into their new headquarters on Claremont Avenue in May 2023.
But first, Simonson Construction has to finish $2 million in renovations to the former Rite Aid building.
Less than two weeks ago, crews started demolition work on the interior of the building when winter weather moved work indoors.
And the county commissioners recently approved around $100,000 for cabinets, glasswork, and roofing for the building.
The health department currently occupies the former county services building which recently sold to the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center for $500,000.
Claremont Avenue Repaving
One of Ashland’s main arteries, Claremont Avenue, has a facelift planned for 2023; the city plans to repave the thoroughfare between Baney and Smith roads.
The project was originally planned to be completed by November, but a bid for it came in $1 million higher than the estimated $3.6 million cost. State law dictates governmental entities must accept bids that are no more than 10% over the entity’s original estimate, so work got pushed back.
The city has already repaved the “worst sections” of the street and replaced a 100-year-old bridge.
West Main Street Bridge
Hidden from sight at the 400 block of West Main Street is a 100-year-old underground bridge over Town Run that has deteriorated in recent years. So, city and county officials are teaming up to replace it.
Work on the bridge may start this year after a state grant arrives in July, according to county engineer Ed Meixner.
But the city and county have two years to spend the $500,000 grant, so work may not start this year after all.
Ashland Public Transit Headquarters
The city of Ashland plans to build a 14,500 square-foot headquarters for its public transit division in the near future.
They were awarded a $1.32 million grant from ODOT for the project, but work can’t start until an environmental study of the site on Third and Union street is completed.
Then, the city has to enter into a contract with ODOT, which likely will not happen until June or July, city transit coordinator Liz McClurg said.
After that, the city would have to get bids from construction firms to build the headquarters.
“Theoretically, we could start (in 2023). But we don’t know anything for sure yet,” McClurg said.
Spellacy Covered Bridge
In September, construction crews demolished a rundown bridge five miles south of Loudonville that spans the Mohican River. In its place will be a new $9.5 million covered bridge set to open this fall.
A rendering of the new covered bridge.
This project is right outside of Ashland County, but it will have an impact on Wally Road, which runs into Loudonville.
Crews are also working on a trail that will run from the new bridge in Holmes County up to Ashland County.
