Today – The West End Neighborhood Plan is moving forward. And on Dec. 21, Mansfield City Council is expected to accept a total of $62,287 in donations and grants to assist with the project.
The plan, created by EDGE Landscape, Architecture, Urban Design and Planning, is aimed at improving an area whose geographic boundaries are generally Park Avenue West to the west and north; South Main Street to the east; and Glessner Avenue to the south.
The first phase of the project, with an estimated construction cost of $905,000, will improve Glessner Avenue between Wood Street and Sturges and Arthur avenues.
The bulk of the money for the project is coming via federal Community Development Block Grant funds. On Dec. 21, the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce will provide a $21,000 donation via funds solicited by Chuck Hahn, owner of the Cleveland Financial Group in Mansfield.
Hahn has been instrumental in the effort, helping the city form an advisory group to work on the project in 2020. The Richland County Foundation is also awarding a $41,287 grant through its Gorman Fund, an award made at the recommendation of James C. Gorman.
The funding helps to fill any remaining gaps needed before construction bids are solicited, according to Adrian Ackerman, the city’s community development & housing director. She said she hopes to have a contractor in place by February and ready to begin work when the weather improves in the spring.
While not specifically outlined in the Mansfield Rising plan, the improvements are in keeping with the principles of the downtown revitalization program already underway.
The plan focuses specifically on the public right-of-way of the streets within the West End neighborhood, which “will allow the city to align and prioritize potential funding opportunities toward the most impactful improvement projects.”
The West End Neighborhood Plan was initiated in April 2020. An advisory group was established with representatives from the City of Mansfield, the Richland County Land Bank and the Richland Community Development Group, and private citizens.
Take a Yuletide tour of Ashland’s Brinton House
Next, some local history. Kyle Von Kamp first purchased the house at 603 Center St. in 2006. The house was on the National Register of Historical Places in 1976, but received several restorations since Von Kamp, a history teacher in Willard, took ownership.
The house is part of Ashland’s Center Street Historic District and known locally as the Brinton House. It was originally built in 1889 by the Joseph and Lydia Pennington Brinton family.
And this year, Von Kamp opened the house up for a “Yuletide” tour in order to raise money for the Anne Von Kamp Parsons Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The tour was one-directional, guiding guests through the holiday-decorated Victorian halls. The walls featured historical photos of the house, portraits of original owners and antiques.
In total, the house had 11 decorated Christmas trees — each with their own theme. He hopes to make the tour a yearly tradition and to raise funds for various charities in the years to come.
United Way in Ashland County campaign begins
Next, from Ashland Source. United Way of Ashland County’s annual campaign is underway, following more than half a century of campaign tradition.
While in-person fundraising remains sporadic due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the needs of United Way’s partner agencies — ranging from mental health to housing services — remain high, if not higher, than pre-pandemic years, said United Way of Ashland County executive director Stacy Schiemann.
The current campaign, with a goal of $850,000, will fund 15 partner agencies and 26 of their programs. As of Dec. 10, United Way had raised $559,000, about 65% of the goal.
If you haven’t already watched Episode 7 of our “A Day in the Life” series use the link in our show notes – we feature Stacy Schiemann who discusses the important role the organization has in serving the community of Ashland.
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to remember Patricia Ann Smith of Mansfield. Patricia was born in New Jersey. She was retired from Richland Newhope, and was a member of the Galion Moose Lodge #177.
She was also a devoted wife, and very loving mother, who was dedicated to meeting the needs of her children and family. An avid reader, Patricia could be found with a magazine or newspaper in hand often. In life there were many things that brought Patricia joy, her cats being one of them. She loved Luna and Tokyo very much.
She enjoyed cooking, the challenge of a daily crossword puzzle, taking care of her house plants and watching westerns and sci-fi movies.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Smith; her three sons, seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; her siblings, and several nieces and nephews. Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Patricia’s life.
Limited Time Offer:Get 50% OFF a Source Membership!
Use code Celebrate50 at checkout
We're celebrating 13 years of independent, local news in Richland County with our biggest sale of the year. Be a member today and get a full year for less than a tank of gas. 👀👇
Start your summer at the Source! Get the Daily Headlines.
Stay connected and informed. Sign up below and join over 20,000 of your neighbors who receive our free Daily Headlines newsletter.
