Shawnee receives historic tax credits for restoration of 3 buildings

J.W. Dennison
·2 min read

SHAWNEE- In southern Perry County in Wayne National Forest on the Buckeye Trail is a village rich with history. The slogan for Shawnee is “Where nature meets history” and thanks to the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit (OHPTC) program, history will continue to meet with nature.

The OHPTC program has awarded $114,450 in tax credits towards three restoration projects costing $1,145,400 at 116 and 118 W. Main St. and 101 Walnut St. Two of those locations are better known to the local community as the Shawnee Jail and The Tecumseh Commons/Tecumseh Theater.

The Tecumseh Commons/Tecumseh Theater at 116 W. Main St. Built in 1907, it was known as a skyscraper and the tallest building in Perry County. Now it is one of three buildings the Village of Shawnee will repurpose. The village recently received an Ohio Historic Tax Credit which will used for the $1.1 million restoration projects.
The Tecumseh Commons/Tecumseh Theater at 116 W. Main St. Built in 1907, it was known as a skyscraper and the tallest building in Perry County. Now it is one of three buildings the Village of Shawnee will repurpose. The village recently received an Ohio Historic Tax Credit which will used for the $1.1 million restoration projects.

“The Historic Tax Credit is vital to our community. The investment to preserve these buildings are very costly and time consuming. Without the Historic Tax Credit Program, these buildings would be at risk for loss. These buildings can now be restored and opened for future businesses,” said Shawnee Mayor Bev Trovato.

The Shawnee Jail and 118 W. Main St. are slated to become vacation rentals similar to what Black Diamond Development did at 126 W. Main St. That property is listed on airbnb.com.

“The people that actually stayed there, most of the people were either birders, hike backpackers or just out for a day walk or whatever and then found out ‘Oh there’s the Airbnb here let’s just stay here,’” Shawnee Trail Town Coordinator Scott Kreps said.

Kreps recently gave a tour of the Tecumseh Theater while Summer YouthShops was occurring. The day camp is in cooperation with Perry County Job and Family Services and Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action (HAPCAP). It was free for ages 6 to 14.

“If you don’t have the kids invested they’re not going to give back, they’re not going to know about this and then it’s just going to go away or it’ll be the wrecking ball,” Kreps said. The building was almost razed in 1976 before Skip Ricket purchased it for $500.

The Shawnee projects are three of 38 projects announced to receive tax credits from the OHPTC. Awards totaled more than $50.5 million in tax credits with public and private investment for the projects estimated at approximately $523 million.

“Ohio’s history is rich with innovation,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a press release. “Many of these buildings were once home to the factories, shops and offices that drove Ohio forward and they still have a place in Ohio's future. We are excited to help revive these historic structures so they can once again be a valuable part of their communities."

The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program is administered in partnership with the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office. The State Historic Preservation Office determines if a property qualifies as a historic building and if rehabilitation plans comply with the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Shawnee receives tax credits to help repurpose three buildings