Licking County Commissioners plan to buy Eastland Center on Newark's East Main Street
NEWARK − Licking County Commissioners approved a resolution Thursday to buy the Eastland Center on East Main Street for $2.4 million.
Commissioner Tim Bubb said the transaction should close in about a month.
The purchase of the 4.9-acre site includes the 38,000 square foot building with multiple tenants, parking lot and out lot occupied by Dirko’s Pizza.
The tenants of the Eastland Center, 998 E. Main St., next to Licking County Aging Partners, include Ohio Means Jobs/Licking County, LEADS Community Action Agency, a hair salon and some empty spaces. The Ohio Means Jobs workforce center uses about one-third of the space.
Bubb said the Eastland Center facility, built in 1964 as Eastland Shopping Center, remains in good condition.
“We’re buying a building that’s in pretty good shape,” Bubb said. “We’re probably going to need to expand the workforce center. Vendors could set up there and do interviews and/or training. It’s an affordable way to add service space.”
Building a similar facility today would probably cost $7 million, Commissioner Duane Flowers said.
County Commissioner Rick Black said, “I think it’s a great opportunity for us. We’re needing space all the time. Departments are always growing as we grow.”
Jennifer Ellis-Brunn, director of Licking County Job and Family Services, said there are a dozen JFS employees working for Ohio Means Jobs at Eastland Center and 145 employees working at the downtown office, 74 S. Second St.
Ellis-Brunn said JFS could potentially use more of the Eastland Center space, but that is up to the commissioners.
"We're definitely filling all our main space to capacity," Ellis-Brunn said of the downtown office. "We're serving all the employer needs, and that just continues to increase as new opportunities come to the area."
The building had been owned by three local residents who have since died, Bubb said, and their children now own it.
“We were given the first option to purchase,” Bubb said. “We were the first people they called. We view it as an excellent opportunity for the county. People will be taking county transit down to that (LCAP) location as well.”
The building has been home to many businesses through the years, including Riley’s Bakery, Arcade Drug, a Park National Bank branch, Norge Laundry City and a barber shop. Humble Oil had a gas station on the site as well.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County Commissioners plan to buy Eastland Center in Newark
