MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Land Bank board plans to demolish the former Centerburg Respiratory Center at 212 Fairview Ave. in Centerburg.

Land Bank Vice President Sam Filkins said the building sits on seven parcels on 2.5 acres and is zoned multi-family. It is adjacent to rental housing units.

Although it is in good shape, aside from cosmetics, Filkins said the facility has tiny rooms and common shower areas. The rooms share a bathroom, and the building needs asbestos removal.

“I don’t see how it gets transitioned into a good use that serves the public,” Filkins said Thursday before the land bank board’s vote.

“It has no curb appeal; it does not look good. I think demolition is the only answer,” board member Tyler Griffith said.

The property owner gifted the land and building to the land bank.

The land bank will cover the estimated $200,000 demolition cost because it has earmarked state demolition money for other projects.

“We could hold out and get the next round of demolition money, but we’re talking about sitting on a building for two-plus years, and I’m not sure that that’s a great thing for us,” Filkins said.

Griffith said, “I think we’ll get our money back. It’s not going to be a moneymaker, but we’ll at least improve the community.”

Since the Land Bank plans to demolish the building, water and electricity will be turned off at the site.

The Land Bank will ask the Village of Centerburg if it will consider vacating a street that runs through the parcels so that they can be combined into one larger parcel.

16 E. Main St. Centerburg

Plans call for the green space at the site of the former Intown Restaurant in Centerburg to incorporate a stage area at the back of the parcel. 

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The remaining area will be green space.

Kolacheez Coffee Bar is moving from its location by the feed mill to 8 E. Main St. and has asked permission to place its three picnic tables in the green space.

The Centerburg Farmers Market would also like to hold its market in the green space. 

The new Kolacheez location includes a drive-through at the back of the building. The driveway goes through land bank property. 

Board members voted to allow Kolacheez to access its drive-through via land bank property and place its picnic tables on the green space. They will also allow the farmers’ market to use the space.

In the long term, the land bank is considering offering the village an annual $1 lease on the parcel. 

“The village is mowing private property because they believe in what we’re doing at the land bank. And realistically, questions will go to the village, not the land bank,” Filkins said.

Welcome Home Ohio homes

Workers installed siding on three of the four houses underway in the Columbus Road area in South Vernon.

The local builder expects to complete two homes by the end of March. Habitat for Humanity Knox County anticipates completing its two homes in April.

Crews will break ground on house No. 5 in April and No. 6 in August.

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Habitat has been fronting the money for the houses under construction. The land bank repaid Habitat $129,864 in January, and Habitat has requested another payment this month.

Filkins said that while the land bank could financially cover the estimated $1 million cost, he is reluctant to tie up that much money.

The Knox County Foundation agreed to provide up to a $1.2 million low-interest loan. The land bank will use its investment account as collateral.

After the land bank sells the houses, it can repay the loan or roll it into the next set of houses.

18 E. Vine St.

Workers will erect tents next week so they can lay the exterior brick.

“They have to heat the outside of the brick so the mortar will dry,” Filkins explained.

Crews will start on Gay Street; work will take about three weeks. They will then move to Vine Street for another three weeks.

As they finish the brickwork, workers will install the windows.

American Electric Power will also start boring under Gay Street next week and run all service from Spice Alley, east of the Gay Street parking lot.

Filkins said the $100,000 boring cost was unexpected, but AEP will pay for the wire.

CK Construction is progressing well on the lower level. The drywall is 99% completed.

The company expects to finish in June.

The state granted the building permit for Founders Food Hall, and Modern Builders intends to start on the upper level in the first week of March.

$1M grant brings food hall to downtown Mount Vernon

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Filkins said the community response to the food hall has been positive.

“The only negative that I heard were questions about parking,” Filkins said. “There’s a parking lot right across the street, the former Mount Vernon News parking lot, that will be available. It has 43 spaces for parking.”

by Cheryl Splain February 23, 2025