MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Land Bank board accepted an application on April 1 for a company interested in occupying Plant 2 in Cooper Progress Park.
“Accepting an application means we are going to enter into negotiations,” Sam Filkins, vice president of the land bank, explained.
“They are doing their due diligence before we have any kind of serious discussion,” added Jeff Gottke, land bank president.
The company plans to build modular homes and is a spin-off of an established commercial development company.
“This type of housing is becoming increasingly popular because it increases affordability,” Gottke said. “They can make them cheaper making them in a factory vs. stick-built onsite.”
The modular homes will be in the 800- to 1,200-square-foot range. The company will sell the finished product throughout Ohio.
“In particular with infill lots that exist already within a city because they will be smaller and can accommodate city lots rather than suburban housing,” Gottke explained.
Preliminary estimates call for 12 to 24 new jobs created short term and about 40 after a few years. The pay scale is around $20 an hour.
If negotiations are successful, Gottke estimates an occupancy date of about six months. The company will be operational a few months after that.
Also relating to CPP operations, the land bank sold the Cooper Guest House at 401 N. Main St. for $320,000. Proceeds will be used to pay deferred legal fees and other expenses at CPP, utilities, payroll for the two onsite maintenance personnel, and improvements to the CPP campus. Improvements include repairing a retaining wall and moving electric lines before building demolition.
Other items the board addressed at its April 1 meeting:
•Kelling Properties completed renovations at 650 Fairgrounds Road and the house is on the market.
•The state is behind in reviewing applications for demolitions through the Ohio Demolition Program. Once the land bank receives a permit, it will demolish the structures at 7 and 9 N. Norton St.
•The land bank is evaluating proposals for asbestos remediation in the administration building at Cooper Progress Park. Money from Ohio’s brownfield program will cover the cost.
•The land bank is consulting with Bricker & Ecklar to submit a $2 million Vibrant Communities grant for the former Mount Vernon News building at 18 E. Vine St.
Following an executive session, the board voted to deny applications to buy two Apple Valley lots. Filkins said the offers were “way under market value.”
The board also voted to move forward with acquiring a house through donation.
Annual report
Gottke presented the 2021 annual report to the board at the April 1 meeting.
“The main highlight is that while we did not take ownership of Cooper Progress Park in 2021, we did do most of the work to prepare the way in 2021,” Gottke said.
CPP welcomed its first tenant, the Ohio Mint, in 2021. Two large water leaks that were unnoticed for years were located, property owners’ association covenants and bylaws written, and a lot split of the property negotiated.
The land bank acquired 14 properties and brought five parcels back onto the tax rolls for $243,120 in value. Property sales resulted in four single-family homes saved, three new homes planned, and one new park created.
Goals for 2022 include completing the West High neighborhood study in collaboration with Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Kenyon College students previously completed the Roundhouse District and South Vernon neighborhood reports.
“Then it’s a matter of implementing [the studies], whether that’s done all at once or one at a time,” Gottke said.
Implementation involves coordinating with the city and Shade Tree Beautification Commission on infrastructure and plans for parks.
Another focus in 2022 is acquiring more housing both in and out of Mount Vernon.
“We just need to get more houses in our inventory, however that looks,” Gottke said.
