A Kent factory built in 1928 for women’s clothing manufacturing has been selected as one of 18 projects around the state to share in $22.8 million in the latest round of Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credits.
The L.N. Gross Company Building at 315 Gougler Ave. will receive $906,000 toward the $9.11 million project cost to revitalize the property into office and light industrial space and two residential units, the Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) announced Tuesday.
It is only the second tax credit project to be awarded in Kent, the agency said in a news release. The building has served a variety of industrial and warehouse tenants over the years, with its most recent tenant vacating early this year.
The agency estimates the projects statewide will bring $225.6 million in private investment for 33 historic buildings in 12 communities.
“A community’s historic buildings make it unique,” said David Goodman, ODSA’s director. “Giving a building new life honors the history of the building, while creating construction jobs in the short term and opportunity for economic activity into the future.”
Other Northeast Ohio projects receiving credits:
• Bloch Block in Cleveland’s Warehouse District, $249,000 toward a $2.85 million effort to create 12 new market rate apartments as well as space for commercial tenants.
• Empire Improvement Building in Cleveland’s Superior Avenue Historic District, $1 million toward a $10.18 million project to rehabilitate four floors as commercial office space for a single corporate client.
• Halle Building in Cleveland, $5 million toward $53.52 million plan to convert former department store into commercial, retail, and residential spaces, including 122 apartments.