ASHLAND — Ashland Area Economic Development was recently awarded $230,000 for the demolition and site revitalization of seven properties.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced $7.3 million in grants to help 32 counties tear down unsafe, blighted buildings and prepare those sites for new opportunities on April 20. This funding is part of the latest round of the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program — which the governor created in 2021 in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly.
The program’s purpose is to “make room for new economic development by razing dilapidated commercial and residential buildings and revitalizing surrounding properties throughout the state,” according to the April 20 press release.
The seven properties Ashland Area Economic Development is addressing with this grant funding include:
- 1483 Sandusky St.
- 211 Claremont Ave.
- 1166 State Route 250
- 240 West 14th St.
- 1164 Wick Ave.
- 240 East Liberty St.
- 147 Maple St.
According to the release, the organization will utilize $206,528 of the grant funding to tackle these properties.
“For the last five years, the Demolition and Site Revitalization Program has been a powerful tool for communities working to turn blight into potential,” DeWine said. “Each demolition clears the way for something better — whether that’s new housing, new businesses, or new opportunities that strengthen neighborhoods and improve quality of life.”
Properties include former Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce building
Cameo Carey, director of Ashland Area Economic Development, said demolition work has already begun at some of the properties.
In order for a property to be eligible for the program, they must be considered abandoned and/or blighted, Carey said.
“A lot of these houses, they have been vacant for a while,” she said. “There’s a couple cases where they are owned by people who could not afford to demo their house and take care of the situation.”
Ashland Area Economic Development works closely with the city’s engineering department to identify properties that may be eligible for demolition and clean-up efforts.
She said four of the seven properties are independently owned and that those property owners were willing to work with the organization. The other three properties are owned by the city of Ashland.
The Ashland County Board of Commissioners is responsible for appointing the lead agency to administer the grant, Carey said. Ashland Area Economic Development has been appointed for the past two years.
In years past, this specific grant program has been administered by the Ashland County Land Bank.
Demolition work had been completed at three of the properties as of April 23, Carey said, estimating efforts at all seven properties to be finished around the beginning of May.
The former Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce building at 211 Claremont Ave. was the first property to be demolished.
“Most likely that space will get redeveloped,” Carey said. “That is a nice space that (receives a high volume of traffic).”
More about the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program
The Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is funded as part of Ohio’s biennium budget bill with $21.5 million per fiscal year, according to the release.
Approximately $230,000 in grants is reserved for each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Lead entities for each grant award have until May 1 to identify all project sites for their awards, the release said.
To date, the program has invested more than $310 million to support nearly 6,200 demolition projects across every county in the state.
