Developer withdraws plans for Brass Office Center redevelopment project (2024)

MANSFIELD — A long-time developer has dropped his plans to convert the former Ohio Brass office building into apartments.

Attorney Bob Meyers explained his plan Tuesday evening to City Council during a public hearing to obtain historic status for the century-old building at 380 N. Main St., a move that would make the building eligible for federal tax incentives and credits.

Council delayed its vote on the request until Aug. 20 after informing Meyers that his Lawyers Development Corp. owed $84,000 in property taxes on the property, now identified as the Brass Office Center.

The vote to push the request to council’s next meeting was 6-1 with At-large Councilman David Falquette casting the only dissent.

The 76-year-old Meyers sought to have the century-old building designated as historic,which would allow him to seek federal tax incentives and credits that would make converting the five-story brick building into 82 to 84 apartments a cost-feasible project.

Meyers, now a Columbus-area resident, began his legal career in Mansfield five decades ago.

“(The Ohio Brass project) is so personal to me,” he said Tuesday evening. “I first came to Mansfield in 1974 and this community has been so tremendous to us over time. This is a project I am personally committed to doing.

“Hopefully, we can put all the parts together and proceed,” he said during the meeting.

However, in a letter to Mayor Jodie Perry on Wednesday, Daniel O’Harra, the chief operating officer for the Columbus-based company, said the back taxes will be paid, but that the project will not go forward, based on council’s reaction on Tuesday.

“You are requested to withdraw all requests and proposed legislation related to Lawyers Development Corporation and Brass Office Center, Inc. pertaining to the redevelopment of 380 N. Main St., Mansfield, Ohio,” O’Harra wrote.

“The Owner was unaware of the issue of taxes on the subject property, and being advised of the issue, payment has been processed. However, the manner in which Council Member Cheryl Meier presented the matter,together with the ensuing Council action, has altered Ownership’s dedication and loyalty to the City of Mansfield which was personally conveyed by the Owner at the Meeting of August 6, 2024,” O’Harra wrote.

“Accordingly, Lawyers Development Corporation has decided not to redevelop 380 North Main Street. Further, the two (2) pending sales of parcels to 3rd party developers at S.R. 13 and U.S. 30 controlled by Lawyers Development Corporation, as mentioned in the meeting, will not advance,” O’Harra said in the letter.

The mayor, who participated in Tuesday’s meeting via Zoom, shared the letter with local lawmakers via email on Wednesday evening.

“Unfortunately for all of us, there will be no further work on the Ohio Brass building or the related projects that were talked about,” Perry wrote in the email to council.

“A most disappointing outcome for a project that was much needed and would have been transformational for our city. We had worked for months to bring this together. I’m sorry we did not have your support,” the mayor told council members.

Meier, a Realtor who represents the 2nd Ward, said Thursday morning she simply asked a question during the meeting.

“My background is in real estate. It is not all uncommon for me to go on the (county) auditor’s website when (projects) come up. I just pull those things up. It’s second nature to me,” Meier said.

“I feel as a council person it’s my job to ask questions. It was not meant to be disrespectful in any way to him or to his company. It was simply a question. ‘How do we expect (this tax issue) to be taken care of,'” Meier said.

“I am very disappointed that the project is not going to go forward,” she said.

In an emailed response to Perry, At-large Councilwoman Stephanie Zader said council did its job of oversight.

“While I appreciate the ‘disappointment’ you’ve shared in this email, I have a hard time believing that an investor of Bob’s magnitude would pull a project for simply being asked about several years of back taxes,” Zader wrote.

“I also do not think it was unreasonable for City Council to delay the vote to be sure it was taken care of, simply holding him to the same standard that every other property is held to,” she wrote.

“Additionally, I have a hard time believing that with your history in the world of economic development, that you are unable to explain to him the reasoning and help save this project,” Zader wrote.

“Lastly, having received phone calls from citizens today affirming the concerns of City Council, I both stand by the decision made by this council and applaud Councilwoman Meier for obtaining this information that seems to have been missed by so many,” she wrote.

According to the Richland County Auditor’s website, current taxes owed on the property totaled $5,540.81 with $78,468 in delinquent taxes also owed on the 6.5-acre site.

Richland County Treasurer Bart Hamilton said no property taxes on the 380 N. Main St. have been paid in the last seven years.

“We send out three bills a year … first half … second half … and then a notice if you become delinquent. If you don’t get your bill, call us,” Hamilton said.

“I assume Mr. Meyers doesn’t pay his own (property) taxes. But someone should be in charge of that,” he said.

The treasurer said Meyers also owns a building at 400 N. Main St. under the name Main Industrial Building Inc. that owes $48,000 in back taxes.

Meyers had told council his idea was to build 82 to 84 apartments with 80 percent of them as one-bedroom units and 20 percent as two-bedroom spaces with perhaps a few studio apartments.

Meyers believes it could be a space for senior citizens, though he would allow the market to determine the ultimate plan for the rental units.

The City of Mansfield Historic Preservation Commission and the city’s Planning Commission previously approved the historic designation, which would protect the exterior of the property in its current form and create standards for the work done inside as it’s remodeled.