The owner of the old Mulberry School property told Mount Vernon City Council on Dec. 21 that if he gets necessary approvals, construction on the residential redevelopment project could start in six months.
The owner said he needs approvals from the Board of Property Maintenance Appeals, the Board of Zoning Appeals and site plan approval from the state of Ohio.
Trust in Joel Mazza, the property owner, and his development team was running low since October when they were surprised by his plan to keep the 1939 school building that fronts on Mulberry Street, Councilmember Tanner Salyers said.
Councilmember Samantha Scoles brought up the wait on redevelopment of other properties Mazza owns, including one at 209 W. High St. and the old Huntington Bank Building at 136 S. Main St.
"I'm still looking at an eyesore on West High Street," Councilmember John Francis said.
Renovating the 1939 school building would come first, Mazza told Councilmember Mike Hillier. A housing shortage that created waiting lists for every Knox County apartment complex makes him confident about leasing.
An engineering firm hired by the city agreed with another firm hired by the developer that the 1939 building was structurally sound, City Engineer Brian Ball said.
The school building constructed in 1924 has been demolished, and aggregate is being created onsite from it as construction material for parking lots.
The site plan shared during the meeting showed that a 102-unit residential development with four buildings is planned. The 1939 school building would have 48 apartment units. A six-unit townhome building and a pair of three-story buildings with 24 garden apartments each would also be built.
Rebecca Mott of the Plank Law Firm, the developer's attorney, said height- and building-size variances would be needed as the developer seeks approvals from the city.
"If it's a structurally sound building, I have a hard time ordering demolition on it," Rick Dzick, Safety Service director, said. "I think we'd like to look at the legal process for going back through the board of property maintenance appeals and getting their opinion, combined with a structural engineering report."
He also noted that the Area Development Foundation has been asked to prepare a presentation on community reinvestment areas (CRA). A proposed CRA for this property never came to a vote.
"But I want to keep in mind that we're trying to market a large industrial site — actually two of them — that we hope to bring jobs, and we lack available housing," Dzik said.
