DELPHOS, Ohio - With its stamped-tin ceiling and original hardwood floors, the former five-and-dime store where Kathy Greaves runs a new restaurant in Delphos is full of potential.
She and her business partner would like to convert the vacant second floor into banquet facilities, but they're waiting to see whether the city can land some state development money intended to help municipalities and private business owners revitalize downtown buildings and infrastructure.
"We're hoping we'll be able to entice more people to come downtown and open a business of their own," said Ms. Greaves, chairperson of the city's Downtown Revitalization Steering Committee.
The committee spent the summer surveying businesses about their needs and customer base, looking over facades and roofs as well as sidewalks, streets, and parking lots, and surveying residents about what types of stores and improvements they'd like to see in Delphos, a city of nearly 7,000 people that sits on the Allen-Van Wert county line about 85 miles southwest of Toledo.
The information they've collected is being compiled by Poggemeyer Design Group of Bowling Green, which has been retained to help Delphos prepare its application for a Community Development Block Grant Tier II Downtown Revitalization grant.
Greg Berquist, safety-service director in Delphos, said city officials plan to submit the application in 2006. If the city qualifies, the work will coincide with two other projects planned for 2007: a major repaving project and a $1.25 million streetscape project that will be funded in part by $735,912 from the state.
"We're leveraging as many projects through the downtown area at one time as possible. [The Ohio Department of Transportation] is going to be paving State Rt. 66 in 2007, which is Main Street in Delphos," Mr. Berquist said. "Delphos is going to be a mess in 2007."
While the streetscape project will include new sidewalks, curbs, lighting, and landscaping, the revitalization grant would provide funds for businesses to restore facades, fix roofs, replace windows, bring electrical wiring up to code, and make other basic improvements. Business owners who qualify for the money would have to match it dollar for dollar.
Danielle Steinhauser, community development specialist for Poggemeyer, said the firm has worked with Maumee, Whitehouse, Elmore, Genoa, Huron, and Upper Sandusky on successful grant applications. Each year the state awards grants of up to $400,000 through the downtown revitalization program.
"Four hundred thousand dollars makes a splash," she said. "Delphos has a very nice downtown, and of course they have the canal heritage to build on. They have so many strengths. It's going to be fun to see what they're able to accomplish in the next couple of years."
Mr. Berquist said it's a good time for Delphos to spruce up its downtown business district.
"Comparatively speaking to other small communities, we're still very healthy," he said, adding that city leaders want to keep it that way. "It's better to cure the ailment before you're on your death bed."
Michael Domin, a Delphos native who is involved with the steering committee, said he would like to see the crowds and excitement that surround the city's annual Canal Days celebration continue year-round.
"People in Delphos take a lot of pride in our history. It was a very successful town when the canal was in operation," he said, adding that since the heyday of the Miami and Erie Canal in the mid-1800s, Delphos has managed to hold its own. "For a town of 7,000 people to have three furniture stores is really pretty amazing."
Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-353-5972.
First Published November 28, 2005, 10:48 a.m.