Highland County land bank, City of Hillsboro agree to split costs of Gross-Feibel demolition
The former Gross-Feibel Safe Company building is pictured in this HCP file photo.
Members of the Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation (land bank) board agreed to assist in covering demolition costs for the former Gross-Feibel property in Hillsboro during their Thursday, March 20 meeting.
Although not listed on the agenda, Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha made the proposal regarding the Gross-Feibel building after the land bank board conducted its regular business. The property on Elm Street in Hillsboro is the site of the former Gross-Feibel Safe Company, and it has been discussed by the land bank as a potential target for state Brownfield Remediation Grant funding.
“As you all know, the Gross-Feibel building, we were looking to use some brownfield funding to get that down, and it's been a long road to get to the point where we're ready to tear it down,” Harsha said. “There's been a whole lot of things going on in the background, but we do have the property back, so we're ready to move on this.”
As previously reported, one of the reasons state funding was not pursued was due to the fact the property was tied up in litigation. In December 2024, the 10th District Court of Appeals upheld a magistrate’s February 2024 decision that the City of Hillsboro is “entitled to the return of the monies and property it transferred to and is currently being held by” the Hillsboro Area Economic Development Corporation, a community improvement corporation founded in 2015 under the tenure of former Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings. Among those parcels was the former Gross-Feibel property.
Harsha told the board Thursday that another reason not to pursue state grant funding, however, was that the city’s grant match for the demolition” and required environmental work “was going to be more than the cost of the demo” quote they already received.
“We have a bid of $96,000 to take it down,” Harsha said. “We already have the environmentals done and everything, so it just doesn't make sense to use the taxpayer money to move forward with brownfield.
“What I'm here to talk about is see if you guys would entertain the option of helping us out financially to tear that down and remediate the property.”
In response to a question from land bank coordinator Jason Johansen, Harsha said they are “just starting the conversation” and do not have any specifics on time frame, but that they would be using Dance Excavation, a contractor also working on Crossroads Park construction.
“I know there's been some other bids coming on the property over the past few years, and this is definitely the lowest of all,” Harsha said.
HCLRC board member David Daniels asked about the city’s “intended use with the property” after the building is demolished. Harsha referred to both the city’s Rails to Trails plan, for which the city received a $1.44 million grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation for a walking and bicycling trail on an abandoned railroad bed, and the aforementioned work at Crossroads Park, for which the city received a $5,204,536 Appalachian Community Grant.
“We have the railroad bed project that we're changing into trails, which runs right past the property,” Harsha said. “The number-one important part is cleaning it up, but we also have a project on Crossroads Park where we're hoping to build some condominiums, and we've had some conversations about continuing that on down through there. Not 100 percent on those plans, but getting it cleaned up for the trail program is most important.”
Daniels asked if the city was seeking “a partnership or 100-percent funding” for the demolition.
“I mean, bottom line is, the property is going to be cleaned up, but we would love to have some help, if you guys are willing,” Harsha said.
“I think that we should help with that,” Daniels said “It’s been an ongoing issue, and it falls within the parameters of what the mission of the land bank is. I wish we had state funding to do it, but we have ample amount of funding that we're able to take on that project, so I’m more than happy to figure out a way to work with the City of Hillsboro to complete that project.”
HCLRC board president Terry Britton asked if “a split” would be agreeable.
“A split would be fantastic,” Harsha said.
“I think that’s valuable, and I have no doubt that the city of Hillsboro will do something productive with that property at some point or another and develop it back into what is a revenue generator,” Daniels added. “That's the foundation of what we're trying to accomplish here.”
Daniels made the motion to split the cost of demolition with the city, which passed unanimously. Harsha thanked the land bank for their willingness to help and said he would be in touch with Johansen later regarding plans once they are established.
For more from this meeting, see the story at https://highlandcountypress.com/news/highland-county-land-bank-moves-fo….
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