Ideas for Main Street building discussed

Plans for a new music venue died late last year.

Portland Redevelopment Commission is discussing ideas for the building at 105 W. Main St.

Consultant Ed Curtin shared some possibilities for the building at 105 W. Main St. during the commission’s meeting Friday.

The redevelopment commission is considering purchasing the building from Smutstock Entertainment and rehabilitating it for commercial use after plans for a music performance venue fell through in October. Last month, the commission approved a $15,200 contract with consulting firm Synthesis Incorporated to evaluate, develop a concept and estimate construction costs for the building.

Curtin of CWC Latitudes shared details about the former Sears building in Columbus that is now being used as a winter market. He said during a recent visit he learned there were 45 vendors, a playground space, refreshments and live music.

“They were able to do a lot in that space,” he said.

Curtin suggested that a similar idea on a smaller scale, likely filling the winter gap when the outdoor Locals’ Market is not operating, could be a possibility for the first floor of the building at 105 W. Main St. 

He added that the traffic a winter market could bring might also help with eventually selling the building.

Another idea, Curtin said, would be something similar to the innovation center in South Bend. He added that anything like a makerspace or co-working area would be a positive.

Redevelopment commission member Reda Theurer-Miller said she likes the idea of a multi-use facility.

Curtin told commission members Rusty Inman, Mike Simons, Dave Teeter and Theurer-Miller that Synthesis has visited the building and a report is expected by the end of February. The commission plans to hold a special meeting after the report comes in to discuss whether to purchase the building.

Also Friday, Curtin reported that testing by Environforensics for vinyl chloride in the Hood Building, home of The Commercial Review, came back negative. He said work continues toward an agreement with a potential developer.

The redevelopment commission purchased the building for potential development in late 2023, with the newspaper leasing the first floor and basement.

In other business, the commission:

•Re-elected Inman as president and Theurer-Miller as vice president.

•Heard the financial report, which shows a balance of $1.08 million.

•Received an update from Theurer-Miller regarding Portland Main Street Connect activities. She noted that all planters are back in place in the downtown area and benches will be placed in the spring. With veteran banners installed from May through November, the commission also discussed utilizing other banners it had purchased in city parks and along the RiverPath Trail. She also noted a collaboration with Jay County Trails Club on creating recordings about local history that would be available in conjunction with historic markers.

•Approved the purchase of $1,504.61 in equipment from Coppersmith to fix an electrical issue with light poles in the downtown area.