Sylvania looking for bids on Main Street properities
8/22/2017The city of Sylvania is soliciting bids for two properties on its Main Street corridor, the latest in its push to sell city-owned land back to private ownership.
The city is asking for $265,000 and “creative proposals” for a pair of duplexes in the 5700 block of North Main Street.
“We’re just not going to sell them for selling sake,” said Bill Sanford, Sylvania’s economic development director. “We want proposals of how you’re going to use these properties. We want to see a mixed use and how it matches up with downtown.”
The apartments are located next to the Maplewood Marketplace, which the city sold this year to former NFL punter Brandon Fields for $1.06 million. He and his wife Katie plan to open Inside the Five Brewing Co. in the space in the spring of 2018.
“We’re pleased with all the interest in our downtown, and this is an opportunity for further development in the north block of our downtown,” Mayor Craig Stough said.
Council President Mary Westphal said she is happy to support any opportunities for economic development in Sylvania.
“We purchased that property some time ago with the goal of returning it back to use in the downtown area,” she said. “It’s a nice time for us to test the waters and see what opportunities may come.”
The city purchased the properties for $230,000 in 2011 for the parking spaces that came along with them. Sylvania has collected about $143,000 in rent since then.
The city is accepting bids through Oct. 20.
Contact Sarah Elms at selms@theblade.com, 419-724-6103 or on Twitter @BySarahElms.