MANSFIELD — Jodie Perry spent the majority — if not all — of Tuesday taking phone calls.
The same could be said about several city lawmakers, although maybe not as large of a volume as Mansfield’s mayor.
A proposal to develop the 1.4-acre Municipal Parking Lot in downtown Mansfield has been a citywide topic of interest since Monday afternoon.
That’s when Park National Bank announced its plans to build a new office on the western half of the Municipal Lot. In return, the bank plans to turn over its current eight-story building at 3 N. Main St. to the city’s new Community Improvement Corporation, among other stipulations.
This news sparked a public outpouring — largely via social media comments — with residents expressing opinions both in favor of and against the idea.
City Council on Tuesday evening was scheduled to vote on legislation that would convey one-half of the parking lot space at Fourth and Main streets to the Mansfield CIC — which would then transfer it to PNB.
During an economic development committee meeting, which began prior to Tuesday’s council meeting at 6:30 p.m., Perry suggested council add an additional reading to the legislation.
She said this would create more time for public input.
“Developing the Municipal Lot is something that we have been talking about since 2018 when Mansfield Rising went into place,” the mayor said. “But we have known all along that if we are to take parking away, we need to replace that parking.
“That is absolutely a part of this.”
Mansfield lawmakers ultimately chose to honor Perry’s suggestion Tuesday. City Council voted to add a second reading of the legislation, to be followed by a vote, to the agenda when city lawmakers meet again on Oct. 21.
David Falquette, at-large councilman, reminded council that a vote on the legislation on Oct. 21 is not something set in stone and could be postponed further should City Council deem it necessary.
Feedback relates to parking, downtown businesses
Perry addressed some of the most frequently voiced concerns regarding the proposed development of the Muni Lot — which largely include reduced parking and the possible impacts to downtown businesses.
“In an ideal world, I could sit here today and say, ‘Here’s the parking,'” she said. “That was what we were working towards, but the timing of this is such that I was not able to get that across the finish line before it was becoming public.”
The mayor said the city is in the process of developing other parking to serve the Carrousel District, adding that she came straight to Tuesday’s meeting from a conversation on that matter specifically.
Breaking down the deal
Here’s a look of how the proposed development deal would break down if approved by City Council on Oct. 21. It would also need to be approved by the city’s CIC board, which postponed its meeting scheduled for Wednesday due to a lack of quorum.
- Park National Bank (PNB) will pay the CIC $175,000 for the parking lot space, which will house approximately 25 bank associates and will become the bank’s primary downtown Mansfield office once construction is complete. It will be the first new construction downtown in decades when it begins in the fall of 2026, likely when the Main Street Corridor Improvement Project is completed.
- PNB will also donate $130,000 to the CIC to help pay for the development of additional downtown parking that will be lost when the new bank is built on half of the current Municipal Lot.
- PNB will also donate its current building at 3 N. Main St., appraised at a value of $1.5 million, according to the Richland County Auditor’s website.
Perry also said she’s continuing to field conversations with downtown Mansfield business owners, investors and stakeholders.
Having an additional few weeks between now and council’s next scheduled vote on the legislation creates more space for Perry to have more one-to-one conversations to address those concerns, she said.
“I do think 90 percent of the concern is really around the parking. And I get that. I 100 percent get that,” Perry said. “I am well aware that mantle rests on my shoulders to get that figured out and I want to get that figured out as much as anyone.”
‘We’re listening,’ Mansfield councilman tells downtown business owners
Aurelio Diaz, 5th Ward councilman, thanked Perry for her communication and transparency around the development plan — which has become debated quickly and heavily.
“I’m glad we’re not voting on this tonight because I wouldn’t be comfortable,” Diaz said. “I think that we need more discussions.
“For those who do have businesses downtown — patrons, business owners, residents — we’re listening.”
He wasn’t alone in that feeling.
Shari Robertson, at-large councilwoman, said she strongly agreed with adding a second reading.
But she also feels there is a collaborative path forward with the proposed plan.
“I commend the fact that we have someone that is a business here that is looking to invest significantly in our city and this revitalization and we have to consider that, too,” she said.
Robertson, along with the mayor and several other City Council members, thanked the business owners, community stakeholders and Mansfield residents who showed up to Tuesday’s council meeting.
See the articles below for more information on PNB’s proposed development plan of the Municipal Lot, as well as a detailed look at how the city has arrived at this moment.
