SHELBY — Heavy rain last week formed puddles inside what has been described as the “biggest eyesore in Shelby.”
Four parcels at the corner of Broadway and Main streets in downtown Shelby have been vacant and in a state of disrepair for years.
Shelby resident Troy Baker purchased the buildings around 2021 — expressing interest in a public/private partnership with the Richland County Land Bank.
In July 2023, an influx of new state grant money opened the door for the Land Bank to consider seeking funds to demolish and clean up the site at Broadway and Main streets.
Four months later, the Land Bank board approved plans to seek $2.5 million in 2024 state funds for brownfield remediation for five different projects — including Baker’s buildings.
However, a recent vote by the board on June 5 put the estimated $697,000 project on the back burner — with guaranteed brownfield funds going towards the demo and cleanup of former Westinghouse properties in Mansfield.
Shelby eyesore needs attention ‘sooner than later’
Shelby Project Coordinator Joe Gies, who’s also a Land Bank board member, was on vacation and couldn’t attend the board’s June 5 meeting.
Upon his return to, Gies said he had discussions with the Land Bank regarding future action with the Shelby eyesore.
“They (Land Bank) firmly want to do something to help,” he said. “Maybe it’s another round of grants or there’s some other ideas that we’re trying to brainstorm to get that building down.”
“They didn’t walk away,” Gies said. “This just might be different from what it was before.”
The buildings at the corner of Broadway and Main streets have “deteriorated greatly” over the past few years.
Former apartment units occupy the upstairs. The space downstairs was most recently a auto parts, tires and service shop.
However, from their exterior, the buildings don’t necessarily hint at the conditions found inside.
Several areas throughout the four parcels remain littered with trash and debris — highlighted by light making its way into the building through cracked and broken windows.
Holes in the roof and foundation problems have raised concerns among city officials.
“The roof is an issue,” Gies said. “We want to get something done sooner than later … I’m still actively talking with Amy (Hamrick, Land Bank executive director) over there and we’re trying to come up with a plan.”
Rising Westinghouse costs, ODOD funding rules contribute to delay
Rising costs to finish the demolition and cleanup of former Westinghouse properties in Mansfield have added to the delay of Shelby’s project.
Those increasing costs — along with the Ohio Department of Development’s rules on how additional funds for ongoing projects can be obtained — left the Land Bank board with a difficult decision on June 5.
The board ultimately voted to use the guaranteed $1 million available in 2024 state brownfield funds to continue the work that began in December 2022 on the former “A” building at 200 E. Fifth Street. and the adjoining 13-acre “concrete parcel.”
Amy Hamrick, Land Bank executive director, said the board had asked the state if projects previously funded, but not completed, were eligible for additional funding.
Earlier in June she said ODOD told her previously funded remediation projects requiring additional funds to complete the remediation work are only eligible through their county’s $1 million set-aside.
‘The whole situation is incredibly frustrating’ says Gribben
The Land Bank will reapply for funds for the Shelby project, though it appears any future ODOD grants will require local matching funds.
With Broadway and Main, that means about $164,000 will need to be found among the City of Shelby and the Land Bank and perhaps other sources.
Jessica Gribben, economic development manager to the City of Shelby and northern Richland County for the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, expressed frustration earlier this month with the way ODOD has handled the funding process.
“The whole situation is incredibly frustrating,” Gribben said June 5. “It’s been going on since 2021 when we applied and it’s just not worked out and the building has started to deteriorate.”
“The state, the way they are hamstringing the dollars, it’s just not comfortable,” she said.
Baker, who owns the four parcels at the corner of Broadway and Main streets, declined to comment on current delays with the public/private partnership project.
However, he gave Richland Source permission to walk through and photograph the buildings’ current state on June 26.
(Below are photos inside the four parcels at the corner of Broadway and Main streets in downtown Shelby.)
