The Ohio State University’s campus in Mansfield has occupied 644 acres of land since its first school year in 1958. Since then, the campus grew in size and in stature. However, some recent citizens and city officials see the need to bring the campus out of the woodwork with the construction of a campus district.
“We want to have some retail excitement catered toward students. The university has disappeared into the woods,” said Property Owner Representative Ben Brown.
Brown owns the land adjacent to Meijer and the land between the Ontario Bell Store with the exception of a privately owned lot next to the Bell Store. Brown built Buckeye Village. The land considered for the next development is approximately 75 acres.
According to Brown, the immediate plan is to acquire permission from Mansfield’s city council to implement sewer lines. A plan is in the works to have a proposal ready by October.
The land was inherited by Brown, which was previously owned by his grandfather for investment purposes. Brown now feels that the “time is right” to develop the area into a campus district, which will ideally feature retail spaces and restaurants geared for students he said.
Additionally, Economic Development Director for Ontario Mark Weidemyre said he would like to see shops with storefronts on the bottom and apartment flats on top of the buildings.
“When we get done, you will know you’re in the district,” said Weidemyre.
Although the plan is in its infancy stages, Hutchinson said the City of Ontario is ready to move forward with the idea, but since the sewer lines would direct sewage to Mansfield, and since the property lies in both Mansfield and Ontario city limits, the plan must be approved by Mansfield.
“We’re all for it,” said Mayor Randy Hutchinson. “We are working on getting signage for the district. We really want to brand the area,” he added.
According to Brown, the campus district will be funded privately, without a petition for local tax dollars. It’s too early, however, to give an estimate he said.
“If everything goes well, we’d like to start construction as soon as students leave for summer [in 2015],” stated Brown.
