(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today announced that 825 blighted and vacant structures in 30 counties will be demolished to clear the way for new economic development.
The demolition projects will be funded as part of Governor DeWine’s Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program, which was developed to help local communities tear down dilapidated commercial and residential buildings and revitalize surrounding properties to attract investments, businesses, and jobs.
“There are sites all over Ohio that are perfect for redevelopment, but the cost to demolish the crumbling structures on these properties is standing in the way of new economic opportunities,” said Governor DeWine. “By helping to clear out this blight, we’re investing in the future of our citizens and our communities.”
“With these grants, we’re giving communities the resources they need to help clean up and revitalize sites to remove eyesores and attract new business,” said Lt. Governor Husted.
DETAILS: Complete List of 825 Demolition Sites
The demolition projects announced today will be funded with the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program set-aside grants announced for each county in July. Fifteen counties will also receive additional program funding totaling $22.6 million to cover demolition expenses in excess of the initial set-aside grants.
In total, the Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program will award approximately $150 million in grants for demolition and revitalization projects across the state. Additional details on demolition projects in counties not represented in today’s announcement will be announced in the coming weeks.
MORE: Breakdown of Demolition Funding Awards
Examples of new projects funded in this round of awards include:
- Allen County Land Reutilization Corporation: Delphos will demolish an abandoned commercial building in downtown Delphos. Formerly a train depot, the site most recently served as an antique mall. Once demolished, the site will be remediated, and the improved site will be utilized to increase the property marketability of the surrounding area.
- Butler County Land Reutilization Corporation: Fairfield will demolish the former Forest Fair mall site. The site has been abandoned for more than 15 years and portions of it have been condemned. The property will be prepared for redevelopment by the cities of Fairfield and Forest Park.
- Delaware County Land Reutilization Corporation: Delaware will demolish two buildings adjacent to the Ohio Wesleyan University campus and Historic Downtown Delaware. Constructed around 1923, the properties have been vacant since 2020, and the city plans to ready the site for redevelopment.
- Jackson County Land Reutilization Corporation: Wellston will demolish an abandoned commercial building, formerly a bar and lounge, to join the site with an adjacent lot to be sold for future commercial development in downtown Wellston.
- Monroe County Land Reutilization Corporation: Monroe County will demolish an abandoned residential property in Woodsfield. The property is located on a state route into the village and is a major eyesore. After demolition, the site will be available for the future construction of a home or business.
- Stark County Land Reutilization Corporation: North Canton Community Improvement Corporation will demolish an old Kmart that has been vacant since January 2020. After demolition, the city intends to sell the property to be redeveloped as a Meijer and other retail partners, creating 400 new jobs.
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.
“We are excited to see what the future holds for these properties,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Removing these blighted and hazardous structures will transform the landscapes of these communities and open the door for future economic development.”
The Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program is part of Governor DeWine’s Ohio BUILDS Initiative, which focuses on supporting targeted solutions that impact the quality of life, such as water infrastructure improvements, broadband expansion, brownfield redevelopment, the demolition of blighted buildings, and more.
For more information on the new Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program, visit Development.Ohio.Gov/Demolition.
