Glass City Developers is owned by Judy Tomb of Troy, who has developed properties in the area for many years. The sale was announced by THPA on Wednesday. Tomb’s son, Jeremy Tomb, is an attorney with a law firm whose offices are located in the same block as the building previously known as the Tavern.
It is now known as the IOOF/former Miami County Courthouse Building. Jeremy Tomb was instrumental in the court battle over whether the buildings would be demolished as approved at one point by a city board.
Under the court settlement agreement, THPA bought the structures from owner 116 West Main Street and Randy Kimmel of Covington for $485,000. That also was the purchase price by Glass City.
The money for the purchase in late 2023 came from Judy Tomb, who basically fronted the funds to THPA, said Ben Sutherly, THPA president.
“It was not a foregone conclusion that Glass City Developers LLC would be the ultimate owner of the property. Judy indicated a willingness to allow another entity to step in to purchase the building if it would benefit the community; in effect, she held an option to assume ownership of the building during the 13 months that THPA was stabilizing and repairing the building. THPA has shown the building to other entities in the past year, but another buyer did not materialize,” he said.
“It is important to note that, even with more than $1 million in charitable donations, this property does not represent a windfall for any future owner. Significant additional investment in the building needs to occur; the upper floors, for example, have not been used in 86 years. Without a nonprofit stepping up to marshal a fundraising effort, this project would not have been possible,” Sutherly said.
The buildings include an 1841 structure, and another built in 1902. A portion of the building constructed in the early 1800s was one of the county’s first courthouses.
As part of the sale, THPA agreed to make a series of repairs that the county ‘s chief building official said were required to make the structures safe by April 30, 2024, or demolish the buildings.
The buildings were damaged in a January 2020 tornado that swept through the downtown.
The Troy Planning Commission and the city Board of Zoning Appeals approved a demolition permit for the structure in 2021, but their decisions were overturned by Miami County Common Pleas Court Judge Stacy Wall. The 2nd District Court of Appeals upheld that ruling.
With the sale, THPA also will hold a perpetual conservation easement on the property that will limit the modifications that any owners may make while providing the flexibility needed for the property’s adaptive reuse.
Patrick Titterington, Troy’s service and safety director, said the city has not received any redevelopment plan nor has it had any conversations with the current and past owners about future plans.
“As for the future of the building, we are hopeful that after many years of neglect, litigation, stabilization, etc., that the new owner will be able to renovate the building and gain tenants as quickly as possible. Our staff is always available to discuss how we can support and expedite any reviews, permitting, and other processes to convert this property to an economic driver for our downtown,” Titterington said.
THPA is a nonprofit group. It said in its statement that it collaborated closely with Judy Tomb in charting a future course for the building. THPA said its role was to raise funds necessary to stabilize the building and “put it on a more promising trajectory.”
The group said it secured more than $1 million in charitable contributions and in-kind donations that have gone toward repairs that ultimately preserved the building. More than 340 individuals, businesses and organizations contributed, THPA said.
“It has been THPA’s honor and privilege to stand in the gap and serve as stewards of this historic treasure, if only for 13 months. It is now time for us to step aside so that its revitalization can continue,” Sutherly said. “Renovations of any historic commercial building come with significant challenges. Our immense gratitude goes out to both Judy and Jeremy for making our stewardship possible, and for their commitment to, and vote of confidence in, downtown Troy. This building would no longer be standing without them.”
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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