ASHLAND — The Ashland County Land Reutilization Corporation, also known as the Ashland land bank, received $36,693 from the state’s Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program to demolish four structures, a press release from Gov. Mike DeWine’s office said Tuesday.
In total, the program disbursed around $150 million to demolish 2,277 blighted and vacant structures in 42 counties.
The four structures slated for demolition, each in Ashland, are:
• 1170 U.S. Route 250
• 1172 U.S. Route 250
• 1174 U.S. Route 250
• 930 West Main St.
Bill Harvey, Ashland land bank’s manager, said the three structures along U.S. Route 250 have been demolished already. He said the land bank awaits the invoice from the demolition contractor.
“We’ll pay the bills to the demolition people, and then we submit to the state to get reimbursed,” he said.
Harvey said a clerical error in filing the application for funds meant the land bank getting around $90,000 less than anticipated.
He said he filled out the paperwork for 13 properties, but that at the end of the application, he did not total up the amount of money for all the properties.
“I thought they’d add it all together themselves. There’s no sour grapes. It’s a good program, and hopefully they might do it again. I just missed that last step,” Harvey said.
The DeWine-Husted Administration created the program to help local communities demolish dilapidated commercial and residential buildings and revitalize surrounding properties to attract investments, businesses and jobs.
The most a community could receive from the program was $500,000. See the list of recipients here.
“We’re not just tearing down dilapidated buildings, we’re helping to make communities across the state better places to start a business, raise a family, and build a bright future,” DeWine said in a prepared statement. “This isn’t just a win for 42 counties, it’s a win for all of Ohio.”
The projects announced Tuesday are in addition to the 825 demolition projects announced in October.
“This funding is helping our communities transform forgotten properties into productive spaces that can once again play an important role in growing our economy,” said Lt. Governor Jon Husted.
Thirteen counties will also receive additional program funding totaling $35.3 million to cover expenses in excess of the initial set-aside grants.
The Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development and was created with the support from the Ohio General Assembly.
The grants are funded as part of the 2021 state biennium budget bill, House Bill 110, which requires grants to be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Looking at the plans that some of our communities have for these sites, it’s clear there are numerous opportunities for growth,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Removing this blight has the potential to increase property values and revitalize local housing markets in addition to removing safety hazards and opening doors for more businesses to set up shop throughout the state.”
The Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is part of DeWine’s Ohio BUILDS Initiative, which funds programs across Ohio that support quality of life, such as water infrastructure improvements, broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, the demolition of blighted buildings, and others.
