ASHLAND — Crews have removed a rail crossing on Union Street, the most expensive piece to preparing land ahead of the slated development of Ashland’s Pump House District.
Ashland City Council unanimously approved a transfer of $177,846, a necessary move to pay for the city’s local match of a state grant received in early 2024.
A small section of Union Street has been closed to thru-traffic since June 2, to allow for the crossing to be paved.
Shane Kremser, the city’s engineer, said Sarver Paving is expected to pave over the railroad crossing on Wednesday or Thursday.
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said finishing the rail crossing removal is “vital” to the overall Pumphouse District project, which involves the construction of apartments and retail spaces, an urban meadow and the renovation of a vacant building into a hotel.
Miller said the railroad crossing, and its “spur,” which used to service the old Myers factories, laid directly in an area that will likely serve as an apartment complex’s parking lot.
Crews from Ashland Railway removed the crossing recently. A representative from the company was not immediately available to comment.
The project was funded through a $804,735 grant from the Ohio Rail Development Commission via its Ohio Crossing Elimination Program.
When the grant was announced in January 2024, Miller described the project as the most expensive in preparing the land for the expected development of the Pump House District.
Ashland is expected to provide a 10-percent match to the grant, bringing the total price to $982,581, hence council’s action to transfer funds on Tuesday.
Larry Paxton, the city’s finance director, said there’s a possibility Ashland won’t need to spend the matching funds in their entirety.
The Pumphouse District, an update
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 $1,000 in May.
Both developers have signaled that construction on the project is imminent and site plans for both projects have received final approval, according to Kremser, the city’s engineer.
Council has also approved updated purchase agreements at recent meetings.
Miller said the city awaits upon a “development agreement,” which is currently being hashed out by attorneys.
Development agreements, typical in large-scale projects, are contracts between a local government and a developer. They outline terms and conditions for developing the property, establish a legal framework, timelines, regulations and obligations.