Shelby’s historic firehouse takes step toward revival
By David Jacobs
Though Shelby’s historic firehouse is beginning its path toward private ownership, and details remain unresolved, a city leader is offering words of reassurance.
At the month's opening meeting, Shelby City Councilman Nathan Martin eased any concerns as the process gets underway.
"It's still going to be a mainstay of our downtown," Martin said.
Shelby Mayor Steve Schag presented a preview of what's to come, providing a letter to City Council on what's planned for the 1872 firehouse that most recently has been used for storage.
"As ex-officio director of public service, I hereby determine that the building and land presently located at 10 East Main Street... are no longer needed for any municipal purpose," Schag said. "I recommend that council take any and all action to sell this joint property."
In his April 4 letter, Mayor Schag cited the Ohio Revised Code (state law) in taking action on the old firehouse.
"Ohio Revised Code Section 721.01 states in part — 'Municipal corporations have special power to sell or lease real estate or to sell personal property belonging to the municipal corporation, when such real estate or personal property is not needed for any municipal purpose,'" Schag wrote.
He has previously said he has worked with several Shelby officials such as law director Gordon Eyster, city project coordinator Joe Gies, economic development manager Jessica Gribben among others.
"We'll be presenting to council a preview...a business plan" for future use, Schag told council.
"And that, of course, once we kind of agree on that, we'll work with the CIC to make sure we have those guidelines in place for saleable," Schag said about Shelby's Community Improvement Corporation.
CIC has worked with local partners to lead downtown revitalization successes, and its efforts date back nearly a decade.
For Councilman Martin, the firehouse had been a pressing concern for years, prompting quarterly status updates from the mayor. The building had primarily been used to store equipment.
"If we keep on keeping on the way we keep it on, you're going to get to a point where it's going to have no value, but to anybody possibly come in with private funds or state grants to be able to do anything about it," Martin said Oct. 7.
Last fall, he praised the new sense of urgency.
At the April 7 meeting, Councilman Martin praised the arrival of the letter.
"I'm happy this day's come," he said. "I've been asking for this letter since 2018 (involving) 'What are we actually going to do with this property?'"
Martin was upbeat about the city "now getting into a position" to move forward on a future use of the property.
The 153-year-old firehouse, unused since a private ambulance service moved out in fall 2022, requires extensive repairs. The Shelby Fire Department moved into the current fire station off High School Avenue in 2018.
By transferring ownership of the firehouse, city officials seek to preserve the building while ensuring that it does not become a financial burden for Shelby taxpayers.
"There's no bigger supporter of historical structures than myself," Councilman Martin said. "But there does come a point where we have to let the private entities step in and take care of it because we're just inadequate to take care of it fully ourselves."
He looks forward to seeing different proposals for future ownership.
"It's still going to be there," Martin said of the old firehouse "It's still going to be a mainstay of our downtown. We have a Historic Preservation Commission and a bunch of other things to ensure that success. But at the end of the day, it wasn't getting any better in our hands."
Councilman Charles Roub, Shelby's retired police chief, also has been active on the old firehouse issue, providing regular updates as chairman of a Shelby City Council committee.
"The Public Works and General Operations committee met on the 25th and discussed the fire department (land) surveys done and moving ahead towards the sale," said Roub, the committee's longtime leader.
He also noted the letter from the mayor that included information from the surveyor.
After Martin's concerns from last fall, Roub announced that the committee would hold its next meeting (in the fall of 2024) in the old firehouse.
“After a little bit of discussion, it was decided that the next public works and general operations meeting will be held there so everybody gets a chance to have a look at that and maybe get a better feel for what's going on there,” Councilman Roub said on Nov. 4.
Councilman Roub also provided updates earlier this year on various land-record issues and necessary updates in the official records -- actions needed before Schag could submit his letter.
