The condemned Spray building, 89 W. Washington St., will have one more chance at renovation thanks to an ordinance adopted during last night's Nelsonville City Council meeting.
The ordinance authorizes City Manager Fred Holmes to file an application for the Ohio Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Downtown Revitalization Program. Holmes will apply on behalf of property owner Mike L'Heureux because the city has the authority to enter into contracts with the state. The grant helps cities that have sufficient plans to develop downtown areas.
Councilwoman Anita Mondo said although the city is applying for the grant, no money will come out of the city coffers.
The application, if approved, could provide about $180,000 to make the building safe for reentry. L'Heureux would have to provide the additional share of local funds required, an estimated $100,000 to $200,000, to complete the renovation process.
Vice President of Council Greg Smith said he was tempted to vote against the ordinance because Council had originally voted to level the condemned building and then backed down. He said he changed his mind when he found out the grant application will be approved or rejected within a month.
I'm willing to give it a month to find out. If we don't get the grant
I hope we move quickly to get this building down Smith said.
There was some opposition to the ordinance from residents present at the meeting. Dennis Wolfe of Nelsonville said that even if grant money comes from the state, it is still taxpayer's money.
I think the building should be torn down Wolfe said. I don't see putting any money into this building while it's still privately owned.
Holmes said if the building was renovated, the first floor of the building could be put to public use as a city office, which provided incentives to support the ordinance.
In other Council news:
-Betty Jo Parsley was appointed as head of the planning commission. She will replace Charlie Pancake, whose resignation was accepted at the Oct. 25 Council meeting.
-Edwin Downs was promoted to a full-time permanent police officer position from a provisional full-time position. He replaces Don Newton, who left earlier in the year.
-Kenneth Donley was hired as a part-time communications officer to replace Downs. A communications officer functions as a dispatcher for the police department.
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