Projects in Painesville, Piqua, Ravenna and Van Wert receive funding through the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program
(COLUMBUS, OH)— The Ohio History Connection has announced that projects in Painesville, Piqua, Ravenna and Van Wert are recipients of the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program. This program assists Ohio’s Main Street communities with the rehabilitation of historic buildings that prioritize economic impact, use of commercial first floor space and upper floor residential space and encourage reactivation of vacant spaces. Ohio was one of eight states to be awarded this funding in August 2020. The Ohio History Connection is re-granting $446,327 to four projects in Main Street communities.
The Ohio Main Street Program, administered by Heritage Ohio, works with communities across the state to revitalize their historic or traditional commercial areas. Based in historic preservation, the Main Street approach was developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to save historic commercial architecture and the fabric of American communities’ built environment. Heritage Ohio will oversee the grant projects working in conjunction with the local Main Street organization.
Main Street community projects awarded:
Painesville
Lake County National Bank Building
30 South Park Place
The former Lake County National Bank Building was a financial hub for Painesville since its construction in 1965, until it was recently vacated. The property owner will revitalize the building to serve Lake Erie College students, offering mixed-use space including residential. Paul Bruhn funds will go toward exterior rehabilitation efforts including spot repointing of the brick, brick replacement where necessary, and exterior cleaning.
“We are excited for the opportunity to further the revitalization of Downtown Painesville. With this project, we will be able to see a building return to its original beauty and encourage renewed interest in our walkable historic district.”
Joy Severa,
Executive Director Downtown Painesville Organization
“This grant has provided the opportunity to move this historic tax credit project forward quickly and bring new vibrancy, retain the district’s character and encourage new mixed-use opportunities in the core of our downtown. This project will also encourage a traditional, pedestrian-friendly connection with our town square that will bring new energy to our community.”
Cathy Bieterman
Director of Development, City of Painesville
Piqua
S. Zollinger Company Building
101 South Wayne Street
Vacant for over a decade, the historic Zollinger Company Building once held a key position in local commerce as a commercial grocery warehouse. The owners plan to reimagine the historic space to accommodate mixed uses including residential, and a ground floor market hall. Grant funds will help pay to restore historic windows to operating efficiency, and to replace non-historic windows with complementary replacements.
“We are very happy to see the ZOLO project be awarded the Paul Bruhn grant. The preservation of the Zollinger Building and its reuse as a community market, loft style living units, and co-working space will have a lasting positive impact on our community for many years to come. Kudos to Mainstreet Piqua for securing this grant for our community and for promoting and enhancing downtown Piqua!”
Chris Schmiesing, OCED, Community and Economic Development Director
City of Piqua
Ravenna
Riddle Block 9
200 West Main Street and 113-115 Chestnut Street
New owners have taken on a big project: the rehabilitation of the historic, but neglected, Riddle Block 9 in downtown Ravenna. With 50,000 square feet to work with, the building will be readied for a variety of potential uses including commercial/office, retail, residential, and even light industrial. Paul Bruhn funds will return now-vacant residential and commercial spaces to active use. The glass-enclosed atrium will also be restored, returning architectural beauty to one of the iconic Riddle buildings in downtown Ravenna.
“Main Street Ravenna is very excited and grateful to be able to bring money into downtown Ravenna through the National Park Service’s Paul Bruhn Grant, said Julie McLain, Executive Director of Main Street Ravenna. “This money will assist us in moving forward the downtown revitalization of the Ravenna community and of the historic Riddle 9 building. This catalytic project will not only re-invigorate this building aesthetically, but most importantly, bring new businesses and jobs to our historic downtown district.”
Julie McLain, Executive Director of Main Street Ravenna
Van Wert
The Kauke & McCurdy Block
101 East Main Street
As part of an ambitious downtown rehab initiative, the Van Wert County Foundation was successful in obtaining Paul Bruhn funds to invest in the historic Kauke & McCurdy Block, once home to the Van Wert chapter of the IOOF (Independent Order of Odd Fellows). The owner’s plans for the building include creating 16 new housing units and rehabbing 5,780 square feet of commercial space. Grant dollars will fund an integral component of the building’s rejuvenation—the installation of a new elevator, vital to making the three-story building attractive and accessible for contemporary use.
“Historic Main Street Van Wert is so excited to accept the Paul Bruhn Grant and we look forward to partnering with Van Wert Forward on this project. We feel the momentum of downtown Van Wert is off the charts and this will help make the Historic Main Street of Van Wert vibrant for many years.”
Mitch Price, Executive Director
Historic Main Street Van Wert
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About the Ohio History Connection
The Ohio History Connection, formerly the Ohio Historical Society, is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history. This includes housing the State Historic Preservation Office, the official State Archives, Local History Office and managing more than 50 historic sites and museums across Ohio. Learn more at ohiohistory.org.
About Heritage Ohio
As Ohio’s official historic preservation and Main Street organization, Heritage Ohio fosters economic development and sustainability through preservation of historic buildings, revitalization of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, and promotion of local tourism. Learn more by visiting www.heritageohio.org
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