MANSFIELD — Famico Williams recalls growing up on the north side of Mansfield, stopping at Webb’s Grocery Store for candy on his way home from elementary school.
He knows those days are gone. But the childhood memories of a building likely built in the 1890s remain strong in his heart and mind.
And the idea of giving back to the community where he was raised has helped lead him to a new restoration project to the building at the corner of North Mulberry and Fifth streets.
The project will be fueled by the awarding of a $250,000 Richland County Foundation grant passed through the City of Mansfield in the form of the second Downtown Development Incentive Program award.
The first such grant was awarded in June to Fred Timko for his newly purchased brownstone property at 25 to 29 E. Third St.
City Council accepted the funding from RCF on Wednesday and then awarded it to Williams, a Mansfield native and graduate of Mansfield Senior High School.
“It means a lot to me to be able to do this project. It’s kind of cementing my legacy, able to pass this on to my children and also give back to the community,” Williams said Wednesday night.
As part of “Famico’s Place” phase one restorations, Williams plans to create five upper level apartments, creating additional downtown housing.
Future plans call for the restoration of the lower levels in the form of retail and office space and a gym.
Williams purchased the property for $25,000 in 2022 as KNVW Unlimited Enterprises, LLC, a business he created using the initials of his children.
A graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Williams has worked in a variety of social service roles, including as community engagement coordinator with Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo and at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.
His late brother, Marvin, was a licensed plumber who encouraged him to consider the building trades. He did micro business training through the North End Community Improvement Collaborative and launched Twenty/20 Property Development and Construction.
Williams said he has worked primarily with the North End, restoring homes to make them available for families.
“The downtown is expanding more and more,” 5th Ward Councilman Aurelio Diaz said. “This will provide elevated living, which is something we need more of.”
Allie Watson, president and CEO of Richland County Foundation, said the downtown grant program is a key element of the Mansfield Rising plan, part of which identified the need for more downtown residential opportunities.
“Through the Mansfield Rising Plan process, we learned the importance of residents living in a downtown area to create a vibrant community. Additional downtown residents will create the need for additional restaurants, shops, and attractions,” Watson said.
“Mansfield, like the rest of the country, is experiencing a housing shortage. So anytime we can put vacant buildings back into use, it is a great addition,” she said.
“The Foundation felt the Mansfield Rising Plan was a pathway to spark additional redevelopment and revitalization in downtown Mansfield. A large part of our investment has been to create opportunities for property owners to develop upper-level living spaces,” Watson said.
She said the new project “will be an exciting addition to the downtown” and that Williams has a great plan for redevelopment that includes beautiful apartments upstairs.
“Investments downtown are not fast or easy. The Foundation is thankful to have partners like the City of Mansfield and developers to make these projects happen,” Watson said.
(Below is a PDF showing plans for “Famico’s Place Upper Resident Living Areas” phase one renovations at 175 N. Mulberry St. in Mansfield.)
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.
Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry, who played a key role in Mansfield Rising in her former role as the leader of the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development, said she was excited about the project.
“We need more housing in general. The countywide housing study certainly identified that,” Perry said.
“Secondly, we do think downtown housing is really a key to help spur us to towards future downtown development and it’s a real tangible effect of the Mansfield Rising plan,” the mayor said.
“Obviously, we would not be able to do a project like that without the support of the Richland County Foundation. This is number two.
“They had money allocated for three and I know there are number of groups looking to try to get that third one, so we will see what happens before the end of the year,” Perry said.
Jennifer Kime, CEO of Downtown Mansfield Inc., agreed with the mayor.
“The transformation of this historic building on the north end of downtown is an exciting project,” Kime said.
“This building has been an anchor in the neighborhood as a bike shop, grocery store and more. It’s wonderful to see the investment in the downtown and in historic buildings continue,” she said.
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,” Kime said in June when the first grant was announced.
