ASHLAND — Ashland is slated to receive a grant for nearly $1 million to eliminate a rail crossing at Union Street — a project that will spur the development of the Pump House District.
The $804,735 grant is coming from the Ohio Rail Development Commission via its Ohio Grade Crossing Elimination Program, according to Wende Jordan, an ORDC public information officer.
Ashland will be expected to provide a 10-percent match, bringing the project’s total to $894,150. Council will vote on the $89,415 match at a later meeting.
Removing the Ashland Railway Inc. spur, which used to service the old Myers factories, proved to be the most expensive part of preparing the Pump House District site for development, said Ashland Mayor Matt Miller.
“This was critical in order for the Pump House District development to happen,” Miller said.
Matthew Dietrich, ORDC Executive Director, said the Grade Crossing Elimination Program typically assists applicants for large separation projects in preparation for federal funding.
But “the state’s program can also be utilized for other activities such as the Ashland project which is smaller in scope but closes railroad crossings and improves safety. We are happy to support the city in this endeavor,” Dietrich said in a prepared statement.
‘It just takes time’
The mayor, during his state of the city address on Wednesday, said the Pump House District is still moving forward.
“It just takes time,” he said.
Miller said the city is also working with Ohio Edison to bury power lines at the site.
Vision Development, a Columbus-based firm, plans on constructing up to seven buildings to house up to 150 apartment units and other commercial spaces such as restaurants and shops on 19 parcels.
The buildings are expected to surround an “urban meadow” park, which has been described as featuring ultra-modern art, concrete walking pads, a steel tree, outdoor musical instruments and a sun dial.
Moment Development — another firm out of Columbus — plans to build a hotel at the former Pump House office building. The developer agreed to buy the building for $400,000 in March 2023.
The deal hasn’t closed because it is contingent upon Vision’s apartment project in the Pump House District, Miller said at a council meeting last spring. County property records show the city still owns the building after purchasing it from Ashland County commissioners.
Nevertheless, the plan for the vacant building is to renovate it into a boutique hotel with up to 70 rooms.