Pair of at-risk Main Street buildings purchased during auditor’s sale
September 4, 2019
The crowd-sourcing project intended to save some of Downtown Zanesville’s most historic buildings and repurpose them into high-traffic destinations is moving forward after a local man purchased 606 and 608 Main St. Wednesday morning.
For just $11, really closer to $170 including fees, Nate Embrey purchased the parcels during an auditor’s sale in the county courthouse on behalf of his company, ZDT Redux.
Those parcels were most recently declared condemned and ordered demolished as marked by a notice on the windows dated Aug. 30.
However, Embrey has other plans for those addresses.
Three weeks ago, Embrey announced plans for PROJECT: RE-MAIN — a two-part fundraiser in which community members were first asked to express their interest in donating to later be urged to act on those pledges.
The goal is to raise $5 million dollars in order to structurally support the condemned buildings and rebuild to bring in new attractions to the 600 block of Main Street.
Plans include opening businesses such as restaurants, entertainment and a coffee shop to increase foot traffic in the area and encourage patrons to visit several neighboring businesses during their trips to Main Street.
Embrey said he submitted a proposal to the City earlier this week and hopes to sit down with officials to discuss his plans in the near future.
During a July Public Safety Committee meeting, council members moved to give proponents for saving the structures three more months to find an answer. The City agreed to help.
Additionally, the City offered a previously allocated $900,000 to assist, should a viable solution be found.
“We’re trying to keep good faith with the city,” said Embrey.
Embrey is hopeful that the condemn and demolish notice will be rescinded once discussion begins with code enforcement and city council.
Bob • Sep 6, 2019 at 12:25 pm
Quick beating this dead horse. So the city of Zanesville is going to use $900,000 of tax payer dollars to assist with the development or rehab of non-city owned parcels? This seems like a misuse or illegal use of public funds that would directly benefit an individual or non-city legal entity. These buildings are not financially feasible to save due to depressed property values in downtown Zanesville. The buildings are a current and ongoing safety hazard to the general public and should be torn down. Move on from the denial stage and into the acceptance stage- these building need to go. There are plenty of other vacant and dilapidated buildings and store fronts in decaying downtown Zanesville.
Ellen Presnell • Sep 5, 2019 at 5:40 am
Thank you Mr. Embrey for having the vision and courage to try and do something to save these historic buildings in our downtown! I grew up in Zanesville in the 1960’s when downtown was thriving but moved to Lancaster who had a downtown that was also in decline. They have made DRAMATIC changes to their downtown and would be a good reference to follow! Good luck on your endeavor.