MOUNT VERNON — Sam Filkins admits he hesitated when leaders raised the idea of the Knox County Land Bank purchasing the former Mount Vernon News building.
“I looked at the building and couldn’t see a future for it,” the president of the land bank and Area Development Foundation said. “Looking back, I realized that’s because I hadn’t yet learned what can happen when the people of Knox County, across our region and throughout the state, decide to work together to make something happen.”
On Tuesday, local and state leaders, merchants and community members gathered at 18 E. Vine St. to celebrate the grand opening of what has become a destination for business, education and community.
The project brought together the land bank, ADF, JobsOhio, One Columbus, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, local contractors and private investors to transform 14,000 square feet of historic space into something entirely new.
“This project is bigger than one organization,” Filkins said. “It’s the result of local leadership, regional partnerships, state investment and a lot of people believing this building could once again become an important part of our community.”
Filkins said the revitalized building is an example of the land bank’s mission of taking vacant, abandoned and underutilized properties and working with partners to return them to productive use in ways that strengthen neighborhoods and communities.
From vacant to vibrant
The original portion of the building was constructed in 1939, with an addition in the 1970s.
“Along the way, we found signs of life, pieces of the building’s past and even a gin bottle hidden in the wall,” Filkins said.
“I also came to appreciate what this building meant to generations of people in our community.”
Former owner and publisher Kay Culbertson supported the project. The Culbertson family published the Mount Vernon News for decades.
“Kay could have viewed this project as an end of an era. Instead, she became one of our strongest supporters,” Filkins said.
“She understood that honoring the building’s history doesn’t always mean preserving the original purpose. Sometimes it means giving it a new purpose so it can continue serving the community for another generation.”
Culbertson passed away earlier this year.
What’s inside
18 E. Vine includes Founder’s Food Hall, featuring seven commercial kitchens, a full bar and a four-season patio room.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University operates the HW Hub in the lower level, named in honor of Hunter Wright. Wright was the former president of Ariel Corp. and a member of the university’s engineering and industrial advisory board.
Funded in part through the Ariel Foundation, the space houses state-of-the-art facilities for engineering, cybersecurity, robotics and virtual reality programs.
Brad Kochis, MVNU’s chief development and operations officer, said the HW Hub represents a significant investment in the future of STEM education and technology at MVNU.
“It expands enrollment capacity, provides an excellent learning environment for students and creates opportunities for faculty-led research and innovation,” he said.
“Most importantly, it strengthens the university’s ability to prepare engineers and computer scientists to meet the evolving needs of today’s workforce.”
Private office suites on the upper floor are home to Sponsler Automotive’s accounting team and Otto Insurance Group. The businesses provide an anchor that helped make the project financially viable.
Owners Ryan Sponsler and Mark Otto searched for a shared space for about three years, with the goal of investing in the downtown. Nothing fit until the land bank approached them about 18 E. Vine.
“Our growing businesses were in need of this type of space. To have it customized the way it was, again, through the commitment, the hard work and the involvement of everybody. It was big for this community,” Sponsler said.
“Any community needs to have a thriving downtown where people want to come live and work. I think we are headed that way for sure.”
State and regional investment help drive the transformation
A $1 million JobsOhio Vibrant Communities grant helped drive the transformation.
J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, said the state designed the program specifically to reinvest in Ohio’s small towns.
“For every $1 that Jobs Ohio has invested alongside our partners, six other private sector dollars have come in and invested alongside,” he said.
The project was originally projected to create 25 new jobs, with an initial payroll of nearly $1.2 million. Officials expect that figure to grow.
One Columbus is the regional economic development organization for Central Ohio. President Jonas Peterson said economic development and prosperity is about people and improving the quality of life.
“You do that by creating exceptional places where people want to live, succeed, grow a family and grow a business,” he said.
He added the project represents the full circle of economic development.
“You’ve got entrepreneurs, real estate development, reuse, higher education and incredible partners coming together to advance a vision that creates a vibrant place where people want to live.”
Local contractors, local pride
Land Bank Board Chair Tyler Griffith recognized the tradespeople who built what others envisioned.
“The board made the decision several years ago to invest in this building because we believed it would once again become an important part of this community. Today, we get to see that vision become a reality,” he said.
“But before any of that could happen, this was a job site. The last few years, local contractors, subcontractors, tradespeople, suppliers and laborers showed up every day to make this vision possible. They poured their talent into this building. They didn’t just transform this building, they also supported their families while being able to work local. To me, that is a huge win for this community.”
CK Construction and Modern Builders served as primary contractors on the project.
Filkins closed the ceremony with a note of gratitude — and a challenge.
“This project was never the work of just one person or one organization. These things happen because a lot of people believe in an idea and are willing to do their part,” he said.
“The renovation is finished, but the success of the building is really up to you all,” he said.
“Thank you for being here today, but more importantly, thank you in advance for coming back for every lunch and dinner and family occasion.”
