SHELBY — Possibilities filled the minds of Carrie Kemerer and Tim Tarvin as they stood inside historic downtown Shelby buildings last week.
The Shelby Foundation Board, with unanimous support, purchased in March the former Dick’s Furniture building (62/64 West Main St.), the Sutter’s Home Furnishings building (70/72 W. Main St.) and the parcel located directly behind at 65 Wall St.
Kemerer, executive director of The Shelby Foundation, said the foundation’s focus revolves around infusing and supporting local non-profits.
“But when we look at truly the mission of the foundation, it’s for the betterment of the entire community,” she said. “When we’re looking at investing in buildings, this is one way that we can help stimulate economic development.”
The foundation’s Board of Directors had several prior conversations about expanding its impact by investing in downtown Shelby.
Over the past four months, work has begun inside the historic downtown buildings.
“With so many wonderful things happening in our community, it was a now-or-never decision,” Kemerer said. “The board asked, ‘If not us, then who?'”
Shelby Foundation working with city’s economic development manager
An economic development plan for the City of Shelby was created in 2017. The plan specified the city’s downtown as an opportunity to attract businesses and visitors.
Along with the city, The Shelby Foundation has a strategic plan of its own, as well as the Shelby Community Improvement Corporation.
While each plan is independent of each other, the three strategic plans all “walk beside each other,” Kemerer said.
“When we’re looking at economic development, we know not only is that going to help our local non-profits, but it’s helping our entire community,” she said.
The foundation’s board is also working through Shelby’s economic development manager, Jessica Gribben, to recruit businesses, which may be able to establish future storefronts or utilize space in the downtown buildings.
Kemerer said Gribben is helping guide the foundation regarding how the buildings could be outfitted to suit potential tenants.
Future uses of the downtown Shelby buildings could include retail shops, entrepreneur shared space, restaurants and professional services, among other possibilities.
Former Shelby superintendent leading building committee
Tarvin didn’t need much convincing when an opportunity to join the foundation’s board became available.
Formerly the superintendent of Shelby City Schools, Tarvin now leads the building committee — which includes Nathan Sautter, Jim McKinney, Jason McCoy, Randy Donnamiller and Kristie Walp — for the foundation’s downtown project.
“This was an opportunity for me to continue being involved in the community and again, pay it back for all the good things I’ve been given by the Shelby community,” he said.
The Shelby Foundation Board of Directors interviewed several architectural firms and ultimately decided to contract with Mansfield-based Mauer Architectural Design Studio.
MAD Studio will help guide the foundation to future partners who have knowledge and skill with historical preservation, Tarvin said.
Dan Wiegand, president of Mansfield-based Appleseed Building Company, will serve as the project’s general contractor.
Historic district design and restoration guidelines
On May 6, Shelby City Council adopted design guidelines for buildings in the city’s historic district.
The Shelby Historic Preservation Commission worked with Cleveland-based Perspectus Architecture to create Shelby’s rules and procedures for design and restoration.
Both Kemerer and Tarvin said all work done to the facades of the foundation’s buildings will follow Shelby’s historic district design guidelines.
The foundation plans to share progress, updates and news through its website and social media channels on a regular basis.
(Photos below, courtesy of The Shelby Foundation, were taken July 18 inside three downtown Shelby buildings, purchased in March by the foundation. More pictures of renovation progress can be found here.)
