ASHLAND — What is Ashland’s biggest opportunity over the next two to five years?
That’s the first question a panel of city leaders were asked during a recent event organized by Ashland Young Professionals. AYP — a program offered through the Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce — aims to connect young professionals in all fields to each other and to the community.
The panel included Mayor Matt Miller, Ashland Main Street Director Sandra Tunnell and Ashland police Chief Curt Dorsey.
Miller shared the first response to the question, adding it’s difficult to predict what the opportunities and challenges for a community may be in the coming years.
“But I do believe the thing you will see move forward fastest will be additional housing,” the mayor said. “That will come in the form of the completion of the apartments that are being built here in the Pump House District (and) the new condominiums — 160 units — out on Smith Road behind Peace Lutheran Church.
“And then there are two parcels of land, one has already been annexed into the city. It’s along Baney Road and it’s about 57 acres and the other has not been annexed into the city. It’s still privately owned. It’s 100 acres and it is between King Road and Mifflin Avenue right along U.S. 42,” he said.
That particular site could possibly accommodate between 400 to 500 new single-family homes, Miller said.
“If we can build those we’ll fill them, but in the process we’ll hopefully free up lower-priced homes for the next generation of young professionals. The opportunity that exists for the next two to five years that is greatest is for us to do that,” he said.
Preparing for a growing population
Tunnell began her response by stating that many of the opportunities for Ashland’s future come from current residents of the city.
That rings true with the city’s downtown. Ashland Main Street is a non-profit community organization that is central to the revitalization of the city’s historic downtown.
“All of the things that we have going on are from people saying, ‘We want this, how do we make this happen?’ And we say, ‘Let’s do it.’ Problem solved,” Tunnell said.
For Dorsey, the next two to five years may include adjustments to handle an increasing population as housing and business development grow in the city.
The chief said that includes staying up to date with technology to assist law enforcement.
“Another big thing for me is we have a sheriff’s office right next door (and) we have a (Ohio State) Highway Patrol (Post) a mile away. It’s unheard of for those agencies to work together in different counties,” Dorsey said. “Here it’s not like that. We’ve always worked together.
“Now there’s been tiffs before, but I’d say now we’re closer than ever,” the chief said.
Miller added the city and Ashland County Sheriff’s Office are having discussions regarding the possible purchase of a BearCat — an armored vehicle — to enhance community safety.
This armored vehicle is what local law enforcement agencies in Richland County partnered to purchase and receive in January 2025.
Reinforcing excellence
Another question panelists were asked to answer was how would they encourage young professionals to become involved in their community?
Tunnell directed AYP attendants to browse the opportunities available through Ashland Main Street. There are several, she said.
Miller added there’s always a need for the next group of leaders to reinforce excellence throughout the community.
“It does not go unnoticed by me that if we are not vigilant we will go backwards right now,” the mayor said. “If we don’t have a new crop of young professionals that are rising to places of leadership like council or director of (Ashland) Main Street or all of the law enforcement positions and so on, we will easily revert.
“So we need you,” he told those in attendance. “We need you to commit that you want to help make the city of Ashland a community of excellence.”
