Governor DeWine Announces State Support for 37 Historic Preservation Projects 

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik today announced more than $56 million in tax credits to support the rehabilitation of historic buildings across the state. 

The credits were awarded as part of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, which provides financial incentives for the private redevelopment of Ohio’s historic buildings.  

“By preserving our historic buildings, we’re retaining the unique identity of Ohio’s communities,” said Governor DeWine. “Through the tax credit program, we’re ensuring that future generations can experience the character and stories that shaped our state in the spaces where they happened.” 

In total, 37 projects will be awarded $56,125,248 in tax credits to preserve 42 buildings across the state. The projects are expected to leverage approximately $715 million in private investments. 

“Historic preservation is an economic driver in Ohio communities ­­– it’s more than just saving old buildings,” said Lt. Governor Husted. “We’re preserving Ohio’s history while investing in its future through this program.”  

Among the 15 communities receiving tax credits are Akron, Barberton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Cuyahoga Heights, Dayton, Hamilton, Marion, Middletown, Niles, Steubenville, Toledo, Wellington, and Youngstown.

In our region, the Ohio Opera House at 130 South State Street in Marion was awarded a credit of $550,000 for a 2.7-million-dollar rehabilitation project.

The Ohio Opera House was built in 1913 and experienced a storied history throughout its tenure as a theater. Known as the Grand Theater, Marion Theater, and New Ohio, the theater itself was simple in style, featuring yellow paint with stenciling,
green velvet carpet, and white decorations.

It underwent many renovations, name changes, and ownership changes until it closed in 1973 due to the rise of television.

The new ownership plans to rehabilitate the space into a multi-use event center and lease out commercial space and six residential apartments.

Tax credits will assist in preserving historic buildings which are often vacant and generate little economic activity. The buildings will be rehabilitated into residential housing, commercial and office space, and manufacturing facilities. Once rehabilitated, they will drive further investment and interest in adjacent property. Developers are only issued the tax credit once project construction is complete and all program requirements are verified. 

“Communities thrive where they honor their roots,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “The awards we are making through the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program are helping communities in their efforts to connect their past with opportunities of the future.” 

The 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 that the rehabilitation plans comply with the United States Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. 

“Rehabilitation of historic buildings through the historic program and federal historic tax-credit programs revitalizes main streets, helps the environment by reusing a structure that is already built and creates jobs – with the added bonus of preserving local history,” said Mariangela Pfister, Department Head and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for Technical Preservation Services in the Ohio History Connection’s State Historic Preservation Office.  

The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places, and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov. 

The Ohio History Connection is a statewide history organization with the mission to spark discovery of Ohio’s stories. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization chartered in 1885, the Ohio History Connection carries out history services for Ohio and its citizens focused on preserving and sharing the state’s history.

This includes housing the State Historic Preservation Office and the official state archives and managing more than 50 sites and museums across Ohio. For more information, go to ohiohistory.org. The Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Columbus Foundation provide support for Ohio History Connection programs.