State awards thousands of dollars in demolition funding

NORWALK — Several vacant and deteriorated properties in Huron and Sandusky counties are slated for demolition after state officials announced a new round of state funding aimed at clearing blight and preparing sites for redevelopment. Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday unveiled $7.3 million in grants across 32 counties through the state's building demolition and site revitalization program, according to a news release from the Ohio Department of Development. Both Huron and Sandusky counties will receive $230,000 in funding with local land banks identifying specific structures for removal. What sites are coming down? In Huron County, the Huron County Land Reutilization Corp., the entity that runs the land bank, has committed roughly $168,600 of its funds to demolition projects in multiple communities, according to a state project list released with the announcement. Identified sites include properties in Norwalk, New London, Monroeville and Greenwich: • 74 S. Kniffin St., Greenwich • 3490 Ohio 99 N., Monroeville • 153 New London Ave, New London • 64 1/2 Glover Ave., Norwalk • 22 Cline St., Norwalk Sandusky County's Land Reutilization Corp. has committed its entire $230,000 grant toward multiple demolitions planned in Fremont and one in Clyde. Listed sites include these properties: • 3427 County Road 197, Clyde • 2836 W. County Road 55, Fremont • 2892 County Road 208, Fremont • 3534 County Road 234, Fremont • 3677 County Road 234, Fremont • 3679 County Road 234, Fremont • 1520 Pontiac Avenue, Fremont • 2486 U.S. 6, Fremont • 4567 West Hayes Ave., Fremont • 905 East State St., Fremont • 901 East State St., Fremont • 907 East State St., Fremont • 107 S. Buchanan St., Fremont Fighting against blight Local officials said the funding plays a significant role in smaller counties where demolition budgets are limited. "We are very grateful for these funds," said Sarah Ross, executive director of the Huron County Growth Partnership. "At a county level, it makes a huge impact." Ross said the benefits extend beyond removing unsafe structures. "The cleanups we see really are something," she said. "In addition to removing the blight, these demolitions really increase surrounding property values." Judy Lykins, Huron County land bank coordinator, said the program is especially important for smaller land banks. "This program has a huge impact on rural land banks. The bigger cities' land banks have a larger budget to supplement programs like this than smaller ones," Lykins said. She said some properties present ongoing public safety concerns. "Some of the properties we deal with have squatters or drug use, and once we clean those up, it inspires others in the community to improve their property as well," Lykins said. Lykins added that this year's funding reflects a reduction compared to prior rounds. "This year, the state cut the budget, and we got as much as we were eligible for, but, in previous years, we received significantly more," she said. The demolition program, created in 2021 in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly, provides funding to remove unsafe residential and commercial structures that can hinder development. "For the last five years, the demolition and site revitalization program has been a powerful tool for communities working to turn blight into potential," DeWine said. Lydia Mihalik, director of the state's department of development, said removing abandoned structures can help position communities for future investment. "Sometimes the best way to move a community forward is by clearing away what's holding it back," Mihalik said. The program is funded at approximately $21.5 million per year through Ohio's two-year budget and is part of the state's broader Ohio BUILDS initiative, which also supports infrastructure, broadband expansion and brownfield redevelopment. Since its launch, the demolition initiative has funded nearly 6,200 projects statewide with more than $310 million in total investment, according to the state.