Historic marker slated for site once downtown Ravenna building is razed

218 W. Main St. Ravenna, OH
218 W. Main St. Ravenna, OH

When a downtown Ravenna building is demolished, a marker from Ohio's Historic Preservation office will pay tribute to the city's historic district.

Ravenna City Council's Community and Economic Development committee discussed the latest developments with the building at 218 W. Main Street, which has been eyed for demolition to make way for alternate uses, such as parking or landscaping.

Municipal Court Judge Melissa Roubic, whose law office was once located there, recently sold the building to the city. One of the city's downtown murals is painted on the side of the structure.

218 W. Main St. Ravenna, OH
218 W. Main St. Ravenna, OH

Kevin Gray, vice president of the Portage County Historical Society, recently called attention to the "Art Deco" façade that adorned the building when it was constructed in 1920. Gray found a photo that displayed the façade, before it was hidden by a more modern design.

Neighborhood Development Services is working with the city to obtain grant funding for the demolition of the building and redevelopment of the site.

Acme 26, built in 1920, once featured an Art Deco design on the front of the building. City leaders are considering demolition of the structure to make way for parking, green space and landscaping for nearby businesses.
Acme 26, built in 1920, once featured an Art Deco design on the front of the building. City leaders are considering demolition of the structure to make way for parking, green space and landscaping for nearby businesses.

Councilwoman Cheryl Wood said the city is required to have the building reviewed by the Ohio Historic Preservation Office. The review, she stressed, is necessary because the building is located in the historic district, and the district is on the National Register of Historic Places However, the building itself is not on the register.

That review, she said, suggests that a historic marker be put in place when the building is demolished. The state, she said, will decide exactly what wording needs to go on the marker.

Wood said there are still several steps that need to be taken before the building is demolished. They include follow up meetings with stakeholders, something NDS had promised when some groups downtown expressed concern about the demolition. Contractors, Wood said, also need to ensure that the neighboring building, which houses Guido's, is not damaged when the demolition takes place.

According to Remarkable Ohio, there are 18 historic markers in Portage County. One of them, at Cleveland Road and Route 14, honors Benjamin Tappan, who founded Ravenna.

Got Ravenna news? Contact reporter Diane Smith at dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Historic marker eyed for West Main Street building set to be razed