State approves 11 land bank demolition projects

MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Land Reutilization Corp., aka Knox County Land Bank, learned last week that the state approved 11 demolition projects for reimbursement.

The money comes through Gov. Mike DeWine’s Ohio Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program.  Under the program, the state set aside $500,000 in July for each of Ohio’s 88 counties. The projects approved are the following:

•502 Market St., Danville

•7 High St., Fredericktown

•9441 Salem Road, Fredericktown

•503 W. High and 7 N. Norton St., Mount Vernon

•105-109 N. Sandusky St., Sites 1-5, Mount Vernon

•3 Cougar Dr., Mount Vernon

•18 E. Vine St., Mount Vernon

For 18 E. Vine St., the former site of the Mount Vernon News, demolition is only for the interior.

The Sandusky Street addresses are in Heartland Commerce Park. Demolition is complete at some HCP sites and underway for others. The other sites have all been demolished except for 9441 Salem Road and the interior at 18 E Vine.

Land Bank Vice President Sam Filkins said the land bank has covered the cost of these demolitions. Because the $500,000 is a reimbursement program, the land bank must submit invoices to receive reimbursement.

Demolitions total more than $150,000 thus far, and Filkins anticipates the land bank will use the entire $500,000. Any unused money goes back to the state.

“Our hope is that this program can be replicated in the future because we still have several sites around the county that could utilize funding like this,” Filkins said.

In other land bank news, the Knox County Board of Commissioners bought the parcels at 503 W. High and 7-9 N. Norton streets, Mount Vernon, in November for $200,000.

The board will also purchase Lot 4 in Heartland Commerce Park for $110,650. The closing will occur on or before Jan. 31, 2023.

The West High and Norton Street parcels will be the site of a new Knox Area Transit operations center. Lot 4 in HCP consists of 2.213 acres that front on West Chestnut and Adams Street. It will be the site of a maintenance garage for KAT.