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MANSFIELD — It’s the biggest investment in downtown Mansfield living in a generation.
Or two. Or three.
The Downtown Forward project will construct 102 apartments in 14 historic downtown buildings, while also creating about 50,000 square feet of retail space, a community center and a multi-floor banquet and event space in the Brickyard area.
On episode No. 119 of the News Man Weekly podcast, we welcome Allie Watson of the Richland County Foundation and Alex Dorsey of the Windsor Companies for an in-depth conversation about Downtown Forward, an effort made possible by the building donation of John and Mimi Fernyak.
Watson and Dorsey join Richland Source Deputy Managing Editor Carl Hunnell to discuss the plans to create new apartments, revitalize commercial spaces and bring more residents and activity to the city’s urban core.
We also ask some of the biggest questions coming from the community: Will local residents be able to afford the apartments? Where will everyone park? What happens to existing businesses? How will the project be financed?
It’s a conversation about the challenges, opportunities and long-term vision behind one of downtown Mansfield’s most significant redevelopment efforts in decades.
Before that chat, Hunnell is joined by executive producer Zac Hiser and videographer Hayden Gray as we gear up for Election Day coverage and recap a weekend of sports fandom, trick-or-treat and November weather.
We also look at the latest Richland County headlines, including the completion of a major broadband expansion in the northern part of the county; commissioners pushing back against proposed budget increases from the prosecutor’s and sheriff’s offices; and a Bucyrus business owner’s guilty plea in a nearly $900,000 COVID relief fraud case.
As always, this episode is powered by the great folks at Relax, It’s Just Coffee.
Relevant links:
- News of the Week: Charter wraps up $15 million northern Richland County broadband effort, exceeds initial target
- News of the Week: Bucyrus business owner pleads guilty to role in obtaining over $900,000 in pandemic funds
- News of the Week: Rising felony caseload prompts 16-percent budget increase request from Richland County prosecutors
- Downtown Forward: $30.1M redevelopment takes key step with port authority
- Downtown Forward: Project in Mansfield gets $5 million in historic tax credits for redevelopment
- Downtown Forward: $25M vision set to spark a new era in Mansfield
- Downtown Forward: Visit the Richland County Foundation’s website
- Downtown Forward: Visit the Windsor Companies website
- Elections: Find all Richland Source’s election preview stories and our election night liveblog
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