The Zanesville Community Development Committee is in the final stages of creating a downtown redevelopment district aimed at revitalizing parts of downtown.

The district’s purpose is to serve as a catalyst for downtown economic growth, job creation and property investment.

Ohio legislation requires the district contain a historic property that is or will undergo improvements.

The development committee has selected the Zane-Zenith building located at 11 North 4th Street to serve that purpose.

From 4th Street back to just before Zane’s Landing Park, the committee proposes the district include 66 parcels within the 9.65 acres bookended by South Street and Shinnick Street.

Funding will be available to help offset costs of improvements with hopes that each time a business improves its property value, money will go back into downtown revitalization

Business who agree to participate in the district would qualify for a 70% tax exemption for each improvement. In lieu of the exemption, those business would pay a service fee to the revitalization district for each improvement.

Within 10 years of the district, the development committee’s goal is to grow district funds to more than $100,000.