MANSFIELD — Fred Timko said his plans are simple for his newly purchased brownstone property at 25-29 E. Third St. in downtown Mansfield.
Put it back the way it was.
Timko spoke to Mansfield City Council on Tursday as lawmakers unanimously approved a $250,000 grant as part of the Downtown Development Incentive Program, a program launched in 2022 through donations from the Richland County Foundation.
“Plans are basically just putting it back to its original uses … storefronts and apartments. Also, its original design. No variation, with the exception of what’s already been previously renovated in the 70s,” the Mansfield developer told lawmakers.
“The building is perfect, honestly. I just want to put it back to where it was. It’s really an easy job. There is no design requirement,” Timko said.
Timko, through his new company, Frelinda, LLC, acquired the property in March for $220,000. It had been owned since 1962 by Don Nash Limited Inc. before Nash died in August 2023.
(Photos below are from 25-29 E. Third St. in downtown Mansfield now being restored.)
The buildings were constructed in 1881 and 1907 with sandstone facades popular at the time. Visitors were able to see the project underway in this spring’s Secret City Tour.
Downtown Mansfield Inc. CEO Jennifer Kime said she’s grateful for the efforts of Timko and designer Melinda Henry.
“The brownstones are among the most unique historic buildings in Mansfield. We are thrilled to see their restoration moving forward,” Kime said.
“I’m grateful for Fred and Melinda’s commitment to preservation and housing development. We hope it inspires other developers to take on housing restoration in downtown.”
Kime said more grant money is available for developers interested in such projects. Those interested can contact her office.
The Mansfield Rising grant area is designated as Bowman Street on the west, Adams Street on the east, Sixth Street on the north and First Street on the south.
“Growing new developers with the capacity to renovate housing stock is one of our development goals. This grant from the Richland County Foundation helps move us all forward,” she said.
When the plan was introduced two years ago, then-RCF President Brady Groves said the idea behind the grant program was to encourage redevelopment of existing properties and development of new properties.
The genus for the program was found in the Mansfield Rising plan, identifying the need for more downtown residential opportunities.
“We realized that if we were to make grants to property owners and developers, that could be shortest path to really have some type of impact,” Groves said at the time.
“The (foundation) board decided to make that impact. We feel as a community foundation (that) we’re in a position to assume risk where private developers or governments aren’t in the best position to do that,” he said.
Fifth Ward Councilman Aurelio Diaz said he was excited about Timko’s plans.
“That building has been coveted for so long. Seeing young leaders like yourself investing … I also just like seeing not the same people buying buildings over and over again.
“You’re a new face of the downtown and I love that,” he said.
Mayor Jodie Perry, who helped write the Mansfield Rising plan in 2018 through her role as head of the Mansfield Area Chamber & Economic Development, said having more people living downtown is key.
“In order for downtown, and thus the whole community, to kind of move forward, we need people downtown more around the clock. So we need more housing,” Perry said.
“If you look at our surrounding communities, Ashland is a great example of how they’ve got some great housing going on and they’ve seen some increase in retail and things like that,” the mayor said.
“I know Jennifer at Downtown Mansfield has worked for years to try to help us find the right person at the right property at the right time. I think this will bring this part of downtown back to life.”
Among other action Tuesday, City Council:
— voted 5-3 to reject a proposed six-month moratorium on potential recrational cannabis dispensaries in Mansfield, opening the door for companies to seek state licenses to operate in the city.
— approved a tax incentive package for Adena Corp. that will lead to a $5 million investment and creation of at least 15 new jobs.
Unanimous votes for a property tax break and a job creation tax credit agreement came despite a letter of objection from Mansfield City Schools Supt. Stan Jefferson claiming the district will lose real estate tax revenue from the deal.
— voted to appropriate $350,000 into the unappropriated water fund to design the 2025 waterline replacement project, which will use funds raised through a voter-approved Mansfield water main initiative.
The effort will begin putting new pipes in the ground in 2025. In January, the city will begin collecting on the four-year, 0.25-percent municipal income tax city voters approved in March.
— voted to spend an estimated $260,000 to add a new storm sewer line near Booker Place to help direct stormwater flow to the Touby Run Channel.
— voted to re-appoint Ellen Heinz, Chris Hiner and Scott Cardwell to the Downtown Improvement Advisory Board.
— voted to re-appoint Sharon Rawls and Chris Hiner to the Fair Housing Commission.
— voted to re-appoint Maura Teynor and Lee Tasseff to the Mansfield Public Arts Commission to also appoint Jennifer Beavis to the same board.
