There are exciting things happening in a prominent section of downtown Painesville.
We reached that conclusion after learning that Painesville officials, developers and others recently celebrated two projects intended to revitalize Painesville Square.
The group gathered in front of Victoria Place under the afternoon sun on Aug. 13 to break ground on that building’s renovation project, The News-Herald’s Bryson Durst reported.
“Today we celebrate more than a groundbreaking,” said City Manager Doug Lewis. “We celebrate a milestone in Painesville’s resurgence — a transformation of the past into a bright, promising future.”
Lewis said that the site was formerly home to Painesville’s Parmly Hotel, which was replaced with the New Market Mall in the 1970s before becoming Victoria Place. The 191,000-square-foot building is mainly used for offices at present and is “prime for revitalization.”
Project partner Michael Sikora of Sikora Law said that the project became reality with the support of funding from Ohio’s Transformational Mixed Use Development program and the Opportunity Zone program. He described TMUD as “the most competitive economic development program in the entire state of Ohio.”
“For this project to receive an award shows how transformative it will be in downtown Painesville and Lake County,” he said.
Sikora thanked state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, for helping secure the funding.
He also thanked leadership from Painesville and the Painesville City School Board for supporting the creation of a tax increment financing district on the site. He added that the project “could not make sense” without the funding.
Sikora said that when roadblocks came up for the project, Lewis would take the time to find a solution.
“There’s almost no city managers or city leaders in the entire state of Ohio that has the devotion and dedication that he does to make things happen in Painesville,” he said.
Montville Township-based Renew Partners and Ashtabula-based JCI Contractors are working together on the project. Renew founding member Shawn Neece has previously said that the renovated building will feature 78 market-rate apartment units on the top two floors, along with first-floor space for mixed commercial usage.
Neece said earlier this summer that construction work would begin in July and take an expected 18 to 20 months.
Renew and JCI previously worked together to renovate the former Lake County National Bank Building on Painesville Square and turn it into the Tower, which opened last year and serves as a living space for Lake Erie College students.
“With amenities ranging from fitness facilities to rooftop views to restaurants that will be open to the public, that project transformed a vacant, dilapidated building into a vibrant, community-centered space,” Lewis said. “We have no doubt that today’s project will do the same and add to the rejuvenation of downtown Painesville.”
After the Victoria Place groundbreaking, officials also held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the South Park Place streetscape project. Fences and an elevated, flat walkway now line the edge of the square.
Streetscape construction took place last summer. Local businesses were affected at the time as the road and nearby parking spaces were torn up, and Lewis acknowledged the impact during the ribbon cutting.
“I know the hardship was real, and we apologize for any inconvenience it caused, but we’re happy to have you in the city of Painesville, and the new construction is only going to make it much better for each one of you,” he said.
Lewis said that the project included narrowing the road to increase pedestrian safety, adding greenery and landscaping to the streetscape, creating a level surface for outdoor seating, adding a bus lane on Liberty Street and installing a promenade connecting Painesville Square to East Washington Street.
“When you talk to many of our residents, you’ll hear them speak about potential — the promise of a vibrant downtown, an inviting outdoor dining area and highlighting our city’s rich historic architecture,” he said. “The South Park Place Safety and Streetscape Improvement Project has transformed that potential on the south side of the square into reality.”
The News-Herald commends the local and state government officials and business leaders who are playing important roles in planning and carrying out these two projects. Both endeavors are great ways to enhance downtown Painesville.