Legacy meets renewal in Shelby (with videos)
By David Jacobs
The removal of long-blighted property at Main Street and Broadway is doing more than clearing space — it’s making visible the years of effort, partnerships and persistence that brought Shelby to this moment.
The property, now part of a broader revitalization effort at Shelby’s eastern gateway, is being redeveloped through a public-private partnership that includes local businessman Troy Baker and the Richland County Land Bank, among others.
“We are kicking off this demolition process that will turn this property behind me into a shovel-ready site that will attract investment, development and new jobs for Shelby,” Mayor Steve Schag said at the demolition kickoff May 5 at the site.
The site, once home to Hicks & Martin auto parts and the nearby Harv Traxler's barbershop, is being prepared as greenspace with future development in mind.
“I can’t say that I love it, but I do have memories,” State Rep. Marilyn John, R-Shelby, and Shelby's mayor from 2010-2014 and a former Richland County commissioner, said of the location.
“When I was a little girl, Dad would say, ‘I’m going to town to Hicks & Martin’s,’ and he would come to Hicks & Martin’s to find whatever it was he needed that day,” she recalled.
Rep. John recalled that her father also got his haircut at Harv Traxler's shop, which was in one of the adjacent properties being demolished this week.
Rep. John emphasized that progress does not mean forgetting.
“It’s not forgetting our heritage or anything like that, but it is being able to move forward,” she said.
For Richland County Commissioner Cliff Mears, the impact of the deteriorated buildings was longstanding and deeply felt.
"We moved here in 1981," he recalled. "My wife taught here in Shelby. And when your wife's a teacher, you come out to the school a lot for selling popcorn at football games and so on,” he said.
“I hated this thing," Mears said of the blighted site. "So it's been a long time coming, and I'm just delighted to see it finally happening."
(Video by David Jacobs)
Mayor Schag, a Shelby resident since 1981, reflected on the building’s role in Shelby’s past, noting its familiarity to longtime residents.
"Any Shelbian, and I suppose if you've been here 40 years or more, has made a visit here,” he said. “When we first moved here, I was so thankful they even sold used car tires. And I think we've all been there where you're at the point where you can't really afford four new tires, but places like Hicks & Martin would sell you four used tires.”
While acknowledging the site’s legacy, Schag said: “I give a tip of the hat to the businesses that have been here. But we're not looking back. We're looking forward.”
The project, years in the making, represents efforts across various levels of government and the private sector.
In November 2024, the site constructed in the early 1900s as an automobile dealership, secured $657,500 in state funding for site cleanup and demolition as part of the "Broadway and Main" revitalization effort.
Mayor Schag called it “a truly historic spring day in the city of Shelby,” highlighting how the initiative represents more than a physical transformation.
“This demolition project is a testament to individuals working together in a united effort to bring about a successful outcome,” he said.
(Video by David Jacobs)
Schag offered thanks to State Sen. Mark Romanchuk, R-Ontario, and Rep. John "for their involvement, their passion to make sure there are financial provisions for important projects such as these" and to “the Department of Development for the facilitation of funds that have helped transform neighborhoods across Ohio.”
Schag said the Richland County Land Bank has played a pivotal role.
“In my opinion, the Richland County Land Bank has been a godsend in all of our communities in general and in Shelby in so many special ways.”
He named land bank officials and city of Shelby project coordinator Joe Gies, in particular, "for finding a way to see this project become a reality."
Of the private sector’s role, Schag had a personal note.
“Troy and Monica Baker, they have poured their lives into this city,” Schag said. “They love their community, and it shows in their devotion and significant donations.”
Then, with a touch of nostalgia, Schag added, “It makes me feel a little older when I look back and think that I watched Troy play basketball in high school...But we owe a huge thank you to the Baker family.”
The buildings once stood as daily reminders of what had stalled. The cleared ground, which will eventually feature grass and sidewalks, will provide a site for future development.
“As I often say,” Schag concluded, “this truly is a red letter day for the city of Shelby.”
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Pride in Shelby, land purchase sparked redevelopment project
Photo gallery: Demolition project begins at Broadway and Main in Shelby