MANSFIELD, Ohio – A local business has big plans for the former Petersen Tire property, located at the corner of Ashland Road and East Fourth Street.
Rex’s Landscaping and Construction, only a month after taking ownership of the estate, has made significant progress on site cleanup. More plans for development were presented to the Richland County Land Reutilization Corporation last week.
Rex’s Director of Operations Jon Stierhoff said about 17 40-yard dumpsters’ worth of debris has been taken from the property so far, and they still have around 1,000 tires and close to 200 cans of paint to dispose of.
“It’s not a good place to be if you have ADD,” Stierhoff joked. “You start cleaning up one corner and then look at another and there’s even more. We’re nowhere near done.”
Land Reutilization administrator Amy Hamrick said she would contact the Ohio Emergency Protection Agency to assist with cleaning up. Rex’s Landscaping and Construction plans on using the property for their headquarters and material storage, as well as a retail space.
In addition to cleaning up and repurposing the land on the corner of Ashland Road and Fourth Street, Stierhoff presented plans to the Land Reutilization Corporation to build a youth soccer field and 32-space parking lot on adjacent land. Stierhoff said Rex’s would plan on requesting the purchase of the land at a future meeting.
“We just want to see a nice, maintained, purposeful property instead of overgrown,” said Stierhoff.
Land Reutilization chairman Bart Hamilton commended Stierhoff and the entire Rex’s crew for their work on the property.
“This is exactly what the Land Bank was all about, for someone like you to come along and do what you’re doing, so we really appreciate it,” said Hamilton.
The Land Reutilization Corporation also accepted contracts for Newhope, NECIC, Rex’s Landscaping and Wallace Turf Care to mow the lawns of a number of properties, mostly in Mansfield’s inner city. Members of the corporation eventually voted to approve the contracts at no more than $45 per property after much debate.
Township representative Tom Craft from Madison Township said he would prefer a bidding process for each property. Commissioner Tim Wert agreed.
“To give somebody a free check per hour per person, that’s a little risky in my book,” said Craft.
Hamilton pointed out many properties being mowed would only need maintenance one time as many were to be torn down in the near future.
“I want us to have a good deal, but I also want us to be efficient,” said Hamilton.
The corporation also approved the demolitions of a number of properties around Mansfield, on West First Street, Sheridan Avenue, Bradford Avenue, Arbor Street and Wayne Street. One property on Fairfax Avenue was the subject of discussion when it was learned that demolishing the property would require an eviction.
“We thought a possible drug person was using the house, but turns out he was renting it to someone at no cost,” explained Hamrick. “Originally the person had come in hoping we would be willing to sell it to her, but we basically told her we can’t sell the house to her.”
Hamrick explained the condition of the Fairfax home made it unsafe for the Corporation to sell the home to her. She noted the home is separating from the inside out, there is a hole in the bathroom floor covered with carpet, and the floor becomes saturated when it rains. The woman’s children were sleeping on mattresses on the floor, and during a storm the mattresses would be soaked.
“I asked her, why would you want to buy a place that’s so unsafe for your children?” said Hamrick. “She has no income so she can’t qualify for other housing.”
The conclusion was made that the woman and her children would be moving in with her boyfriend, and the Land Reutilization Corporation will demolish the home with their own funds. Hamrick explained since an eviction had taken place, the corporation was unable to use federal dollars from the Neighborhood Initiative Program for demolition.
“For one it’s unsafe, and it’s unfair for her and her children to be living like that,” said Commissioner Gary Utt.
“This is exactly what the Land Bank was all about, for someone like you to come along and do what you’re doing, so we really appreciate it,” said Bart Hamilton.
