MANSFIELD — Park National Bank plans to build a new office on the western half of the Municipal Parking lot in downtown Mansfield, turning over its current eight-story building at 3 N. Main St. to the city.
City Council on Tuesday evening is scheduled to vote on legislation that would convey one-half of the parking lot space at Fourth and Main streets to the new Mansfield Community Improvement Corporation — which would then transfer it to PNB.
In return, PNB will donate its current office building, valued at $1.28 million, and $130,000 to the CIC to support downtown economic revitalization.
Chris Hiner, PNB’s Mansfield regional president, said the move reinforces the bank’s “long-standing commitment to the community and its future.”
He said the new location will house approximately 25 bank associates and will become the bank’s primary downtown Mansfield office once construction is complete.
“The donation supports Mansfield’s ongoing downtown revitalization efforts and ensures the property remains in local hands,” Hiner said.
He said the donation of the 42,876 square-foot building underscores PNB’s commitment to Mansfield’s growth and vitality.
“By donating the property and transferring ownership to the Mansfield Community Improvement Corporation, the bank ensures the property will be redeveloped in a way that aligns with the city’s vision for a vibrant and thriving downtown,” Hiner said.
PNB will lease its current space during construction and relocate after the building project is complete. Customers may continue banking downtown as usual with no interruption of services, he said.
“This project is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about investing in Mansfield’s future,” Hiner said.
“We’re proud to retain jobs downtown, contribute to economic development and help preserve a property that can be redeveloped in a way that aligns with the best interests of our community all while creating a state-of-the-art space for banking of today and preparing for the future in our new location.
“We are proud to be one of the first new construction projects downtown in quite some time.” Hiner said. “Our commitment to our community is as strong as ever and we look forward to a bright future in downtown Mansfield.”
Headquartered in Newark, Ohio, PNB had $9.9 billion in total assets as of June 30. Founded in 1908, Park has offices and ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky and the Carolinas.
Hiner said the development on the Municipal Parking lot will complement the ongoing Main Street improvement and beautification initiative and, “promises to be a catalyst for future development and redevelopment efforts.”
The current municipal parking lot will remain fully available for use until construction begins in 2026, Hiner said.
The $130,000 will be used to support development of additional parking in the Carrousel District, according to Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry.
“We are very excited about this opportunity for new development in downtown Mansfield with Park National Bank,” Perry said.
“They have had a longstanding presence in Mansfield, and I am grateful for their additional investment in our community,” Perry said. “Furthermore, by donating their current property to the Mansfield Community Improvement Corporation, we can ensure that the historic bank building remains a cornerstone in our community for another century.
“This is an exciting time in downtown Mansfield as we build for the future.”
The new PNB office will be designed to enhance customer and associate experience and reflect Park’s full-service banking model, offering personal and business deposit accounts, commercial lending, mortgage services, cash and treasury management, wealth management, retirement plan services, and online and mobile banking.
Construction is expected to in the fall of 2026 and take approximately 18 months to complete. The Main Street Corridor Improvement Project, which began earlier this year in downtown Mansfield, is expected to be complete in October 2026.
Perry said the Mansfield CIC will look for ways to redevelop the PNB building on the square.
“We see it as a prime opportunity to have some residential usage, mixed usage … some commercial activity in there,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful downtown building with great views of the area. (The CIC) has the flexibility and the ability to be patient and find the right person to develop it,” the mayor said.
“We talk about site control a lot in economic development. From my perspective, this gives us an opportunity to make sure this key downtown building is going to stay vibrant and active for another century,” the mayor said.
City Council is also scheduled to:
(Below is a PDF with legislation scheduled for consideration by Mansfield City Council on Tuesday evening.)
— vote to accept $25,516 in “unanticipated forfeiture revenue” from the Mansfield Police Department and appropriate it to METRICH operations.
— vote to accept a $100 donation from Harbor Freight Tools for use by the Mansfield Fire Department.
— vote to spend up to $152,265 for two fully-equipped 2026 Dodge Durango K-9 police vehicles from Jim Shorkey Ford in White Oak, Pa. The city’s Board of Control approved the purchase in September.
— vote to accept a $259,841 firefighters grant from the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security for building improvements, training and related personnel costs for the Mansfield Fire Department. The grant requires a 10-percent match from the city, totaling $25,984.
— vote on the adoption of a policy to “permit the use of employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policies” in lieu of surety bonds for officers, employees, and appointees of the City of Mansfield.
Ohio House Bill 291, also known as the Protect Local Treasuries Act, allows political subdivisions in Ohio to use an “employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty policy” as an alternative to individual surety bonds for officers and employees required to provide a bond by law.
This insurance policy protects the subdivision from financial or property loss due to dishonest actions or the failure to perform duties by covered individuals. The policy must cover the same amount as the required bond and must be in place before the individual begins their official duties.
— vote on the adoption of changes to personnel positions, pay grades and salaries for certain city employees in the 2026 payroll year. The changes largely impact the top of the salary scale for more than two dozen city employees.
There are four City Council committee meetings scheduled Tuesday with employee relations at 6:25 p.m., economic development at 6:30, safety at 6:35 and parks at 6:50. Council caucus is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. with the legislative session following immediately thereafter.
