Ohio spending another $63M to knock down buildings

(The Center Square) – Nearly 1,300 more buildings across the state will be torn down as Ohio continues to spend taxpayer money on grants it says will spur economic development.

The new projects in nine counties will cost $67.3 million and cover 1,277 vacant, dilapidated buildings – all part of the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program that has spent more than $200 million on nearly 5,000 projects in all 88 counties since it began in 2021.

The state’s plan is to use the demolition of commercial and residential buildings to revitalize surrounding areas and attract investments, businesses and potentially jobs.

“These buildings are standing in the way of progress, so it's time to knock them down," Gov. Mike DeWine said. "Once these structures are gone, we expect to see new economic development opportunities coming into these neighborhoods."

The new projects include:

• Butler County Land Reutilization Corp.: Fairfield will demolish buildings on multiple parcels of land, including an old restaurant, former hotel foundations, and about 20,000 square yards of parking lot space.

• Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corp.: Widely seen as a local poster child for blight in East Cleveland, a long-abandoned, 13-story high-rise apartment building will be demolished. Following the demolition of the former 254-unit Huron Place Apartments, the site will remain with its current owner, who will determine its future use.

• Lucas County Land Reutilization Corp.: Two blighted, vacant buildings in Sylvania, formerly the site of a banquet hall and clubhouse on a now-defunct golf course, will be demolished to make room for expanded use by the Toledo Metroparks and further natural resource restoration efforts.

• Preble County Land Reutilization Corp.: A West Alexandria building will be demolished with the goal of redevelopment. This site has been a safety concern in the community for years. The owner plans to sell the property, and a housing development has been considered for this site upon project completion.

• Richland County Land Reutilization Corp.: The demolition of a downtown Mansfield building several years ago led to the discovery of two underground storage caverns. As part of this new project, one of the caverns, which has caved in and is a hazard, will be demolished. Upon completion of the project, the space will be converted into downtown parking.