Over $650,000 in Building Renovations Underway in Downtown Xenia

Work has begun on four more buildings in downtown Xenia this month– two buildings located on S. Detroit and two located on E. Main Street.  The buildings are benefitting from façade loans closed recently by the City. The new loans were made to two separate owners, TE-BE Realty, Inc. and BEMO, and they represent over $250,000 total investment in exterior façade improvement projects happening right now in the downtown according to Xenia city officials.

“The owners of 25 and 114 S. Detroit, 37-41 and 75 E. Main Street all participated in a 2011 matching grant program the City offered for design services to help owners participate in the Xenia Downtown Façade Loan Program,” stated Jim Percival, Xenia City Manager. Now these buildings, in addition to the ongoing Toward Independence, Inc. project at 81-87 E. Main Street, are resulting in over $650,000 in building rehabilitation investment going on this month alone.  “I’m not sure we have seen this much simultaneous building activity downtown since the late 1970s.”

John Finlay, chairperson for the volunteer Xenia Downtown Revitalization Committee (xeniadrc.org) stated, “We commend the participating building owners and the City for working diligently over the past several years to make these new investments possible.  Whether you plan to invest in a building, invest in a business, live downtown, or simply plan to shop and/or participate in the growing downtown festivities such as First Fridays or Hometown Christmas, downtown Xenia is a great place to be.  Join us!”  

The City is completing a Tier Two Comprehensive Downtown Building and Streetscape Community Development Block Grant awarded in December 2009 by the State of Ohio.  The $400,000 grant was the outgrowth of a Downtown Strategic Plan adopted by the City of Xenia in 2008 and is being parlayed into nearly $2 million in state, federal, local and private funds which have been used for not only building rehabilitation but streetscape improvements, parking lot upgrades, wayfinding signage, curb and sidewalk replacement and repairs, public art, and pedestrian/bicycle trail improvements downtown.

For more information contact Mary Crockett at (937) 376-7286 or at mcrockett@ci.xenia.oh.us.

To get the downtown you want, engage the downtown you have!

 
 
LEFT - 25 S. Detroit Street before

 
RIGHT - 25 S. Detroit Street in process

 

LEFT - Toward Independence Inc. facing east