ASHLAND — The Ashland land bank is considering paying off a lien that was recently placed on a vacant Ashland building on Arthur Street that used to be a school.
The land bank did not take formal action Wednesday during its regular meeting on the vacant school at 416 Arthur St., which land bank president and Ashland Mayor Matt Miller described as “an albatross.”
Instead, members decided to approach lien holders in an effort to negotiate down the approximately $100,000 amount owed.
If successful, the land bank could consider paying toward the lien so that an unidentified developer can build housing there.
Former owner in prison
But it’s a complicated issue, board members said.
Land bank president and Ashland Mayor Matt Miller said the owner of the building is incarcerated.
Shane Allyne, 45, of Bellville, owns Simplified Living LLC, the listed owner on Ashland County real estate records. Miller said his plan was to renovate the building and add apartments on the property when he bought it in August 2022.
“He’s unable to do his project from prison,” Miller said.
Allyne was sentenced in February, 2025, to three years in prison following a conviction of promoting prostitution, according to state Department of Rehabilitation and Correction records.
Allyne was arrested Dec. 21, 2023 by Tiffin police detectives for allegedly traveling from Nashville, Tennessee to Tiffin to engage in sexual conduct with a minor female. According to court records, he will now be classified as a Tier 1 sex offender and must register as a sex offender.
The Mansfield News Journal reported that Allyne, then known as Shane Allyne Riggenbach (before changing his name), was convicted in 2004 of aggravated arson and spent about eight years in prison.
Allyne, through Simplified Living LLC, bought the vacant school for $75,000, according to Ashland County real estate records. County records also show he owes $2,563 in property taxes.
Miller said Allyne is willing to sell now.
“‘Sell’ means it’s got a $100,000 judgement lien on the property. So the only way out and the way to move forward is if we get rid of that lien,” Miller said.
He said “an individual” has agreed to pay $50,000 toward the judgement lien, which according to Knox County Common Pleas court records amounts to $95,837.48 (Peoples Bank of Mount Vernon is the creditor). The judge also placed a 9.5-percent interest rate on the lien.
The mayor said Ashland Area Economic Development is working on applying for state grants that would go toward demolitions around the county. This Arthur Street lot could be on the list of properties slated for demolition.
“The person that is donating the $50,000, their plan is in the beginning to build duplexes out in the parking lot areas and then once the building site is cleaned up, do a larger multi-family facility there,” Miller said.
The mayor noted there is no interest in negotiating the lien down because the Arthur Street property was considered collateral, citing conversations with Allyne’s attorneys.
Dealings in Richland County
Allyne owned downtown Mansfield’s Barrington One building on Park Avenue through another limited liability corporation, Grace Enterprizes, from 2019 to 2023.
The building sold at auction for $1.1 million in 2023.
Land bank member Tiffany Meyer said she’s confident she can negotiate the lien down to a lower price by talking to bank officials from The Peoples Bank in Mount Vernon, the bank that loaned Simplified Living LLC the money.
If Meyer and new land bank board member Karen Winbigler can work out a deal, the land bank could consider paying off the rest.
The right approach?
Essentially, the plan expedites the typical foreclosure process, which can take up to two years.
But the property itself isn’t really close to being in foreclosure, said Angie McQuillen, Ashland County Treasurer. She also serves on the land bank’s board.
McQuillen said the treasurer’s office certifies delinquencies once a year, typically in October.
“So it’s a whole year yet until it would go on the list (of delinquent properties),” she said.
Ashland County Commissioner Denny Bittle, who also serves on the land bank board, said he’s concerned with the approach.
“My only concern would be, if we go that direction, to work with one person as opposed to … giving the public the same opportunity to be involved,” he said. “Because that is a prime place to build.”
Miller acknowledged Bittle’s concern.
“However, you have someone at the table now who is willing to contribute,” he said. “According to (the City of Ashland’s) law director we’re allowed to do it as long as it’s in the name of economic development.”
The building
The building’s history dates to 1871, when it was known as the Walnut Street school, a two-room wooden structure. In 1907, the Ashland City School Board of Education voted to replace it with an eight-room brick building.
The structure that stands today, situated just southeast of downtown Ashland, was built in 1927. The school district officially closed it as a school in 1981. It served as administrative offices until 2016.
In 2020, the building sold to Schwab Development. In 2021, the building was placed on the National Register for Historic Places.
The designation does not provide it with protection from being demolished. It allows for benefits such as national grants and tax credits.
The building has sat vacant for years which has led to its deterioration, Miller said.
“At this point, it is truly becoming an albatross. The windows are falling out of it and now people are going in and out of it. We think these folks are living in it,” the mayor said.