Holmes demolition project prepares to head to Nashville
This Nashville home is located on one of three properties that were successfully requested to be part of the Holmes County demolition project. Phase 2 of the Ohio Department of Development 2023 Demolition Project will see three homes razed in Nashville.
The grant funding dedicated to razing unwanted and dilapidated structures in Holmes County began with three projects in Millersburg, and now Phase 2 is arriving, and it will be on to the Village of Nashville, where the funding will help revitalize the village with the removal of forlorn property structures.
Holmes County received funding through the Ohio Department of Development to create the 2023 Demolition Project, one that allowed property owners to apply for funds to raze unseemly and dilapidated structures within the county.
In a recent meeting, the Holmes County commissioners approved a resolution approving the Notice to Proceed for the next phase of the Holmes County Demolition and Site Revitalization Program Package B with Alternate #1.
The county has already begun the demolition process, razing three properties in Millersburg to kick-start the 2023 program. The next step will be to move on to Nashville, where several more properties requested funding to raze buildings.
“You can already see what a wonderful difference this project has made in tearing down some of these old houses that were dilapidated and eyesores in Millersburg,” said Arnie Oliver, Holmes County planning commissioner. “The Nashville projects are going to be really fun to watch because they are three houses that are really blighted and are prominent as you drive through Nashville. It’s really going to make the community look so much nicer with those gone, and it’s nice to have the funds made available to do so.”
As part of the grant, the Village of Nashville was able to purchase one of the properties and will put it to good use immediately.
One of the properties in Nashville being razed will make way for the expansion of the water plant in the village, and Oliver said they are excited because the property is located adjacent to the existing water plant.
“As soon as we take the house down, they will begin their water plant expansion project,” Oliver said. “That is going to enhance the village a lot.”
According to Oliver, the county is hoping to be able to transfer the dollars not spent on one of the initial demolition projects and apply it to another. He said Gerber Feed had originally applied for and received a grant to knock down a building to make room for the construction of a new building, but the timetable didn’t suit their needs, and they needed to move faster than the time allotted.
“Hopefully, we can simply fill out some paperwork and move one of the properties in the waiting list into that slot and keep things rolling,” Oliver said. “I don’t foresee a big problem with that, and we want to use every nickel they gave us in the grant.”
The amount dedicated to what would have been the Gerber Feed project was approximately $150,000.
Oliver said they already have several properties waiting to be razed that were not in the official first project plan.
He went on to note that there could be additional funds made available to counties to add to their initial proposals, and he is hoping Holmes County can collect a portion of that funding if made available.
Oliver said that while these types of projects take time, especially with the state funding being fairly newly created, the end game will be well worth the wait and the work.
He said not only does he have several more properties in the hopper from landowners who would like to utilize the grant funding, but he is always on the lookout for possible demolition projects as he travels throughout the county.
“It’s just a worthwhile project because it improves the appeal and value of our county,” Oliver said. “The tastiest ones though are in town because they have become such blights to their respective communities and villages and there is no hope of reviving them. That’s where we see the most impressive steps taking place and that’s why I’m so excited about this project.”