Correction:
This story has been updated to reflect more accurate information regarding grant funding available across the state.
ASHLAND — The Ashland land bank is considering several demolition projects from around the county and has invited more proposals as state funding becomes available in 2024.
The land bank board is gearing up for another round of funding from the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program, administered through the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD).
There is a total of $150 million the state allocated in the biennium budget. Each county qualifies for up to $500,000 of no-match grants. The leftover money is available on a first-come, first-serve basis to counties that apply for more. For more information, visit the program’s website.
Ashland County land bank received around $37,000 in 2022 after a clerical error meant losing out on $90,000 in applied-for funds. That money helped demolish four structures in Ashland.
This year, the board is hoping for more in funding to be able to raze more blighted buildings across the county.
“We’ll listen to and consider any proposal,” said Bill Harvey, the land bank’s director.
He said grant applications open Oct. 31 and must be submitted to ODOD by April 2024.
“But the sooner we get these proposals in so we can know which projects we’ll apply for, the better,” Harvey said. “We’d really like to have everything by the end of January.
“That’ll give us time to get demolition quotes, pictures of the structures, authorization for access and all the paperwork we need to submit.”
This year, the grant application process will be led by Grow Ashland, the non-profit known as Ashland Area Economic Development. The land bank will technically be a sub-recipient of any grant awarded.
The pairing, said land bank member Denny Bittle, will help ensure the county get as much funding available.
Projects on the table
On Thursday, during a regularly scheduled meeting, the land bank’s board heard from four people on demolition projects in Perrysville, Mifflin Township and the City of Ashland.
Mike McCaskey, Perrysville Village administrator, proposed the demolition of a small brick and block building on North Bridge Street currently owned by Mansfield Plumbing Products.
McCaskey said he hasn’t contacted the company to see if that building could be donated to the village. Otherwise, the company would need to apply for state demolition funding on its own.
There are also some mobile home units along South Bridge Street he’d like to get demolished, he said.
Joe Zupan, a representative of the company that owns the former National Latex facility on East Fourth Street in Ashland, said he’d like to demolish a vacant building.
The plan, he said, is to demolish a 44,000 square-foot building and leave some office buildings stand to redevelop the property. The demolition was quoted at around $156,000, Zupan said.
“We’ve got interest in the office space,” he said. “It’s really cool. It’s brick — it’s got all sorts of character.”
Zupan said a brewery has toured the building and expressed interest in occupying the space for a canning operation, restaurant and food-truck space. Another person expressed interest in using the space for a “multi-entertainment venue,” including axe throwing and an art gallery.
“Whatever we do with it, it will be reclaimed and it will look very beautiful,” Zupan said.
Jeff Yohe, deputy chief of facilities at Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD), presented a $653,000 demolition project of the former Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center amphitheater.
The 45-acre site of the 1,700-seat outdoor amphitheater, built in 2004, closed in 2005 after just two seasons. It has sat unused since then.
Earlier this year, MWCD commissioned a firm to complete a feasibility study on the property to see if it could become a glamping resort or a wedding venue.
On Thursday, Yohe said the study found that option would cost up to $15 million.
“I don’t think anyone on our board was really picking up on that,” he said.
Shane Kremser, Ashland’s city engineer, presented another demolition of a vacant building in downtown Ashland for $284,700.
How to present demolition projects
Harvey, the director of the Ashland land bank, said the best way to present projects would be to call the land bank’s office at 419-903-0201. Project coordinators can also email info@ashlandlandbank.org, he said.