What's Happening in Lancaster, OH…

The Mithoff Building in downtown Lancaster is 150 years old, and the city is now looking for a buyer for it.

Lancaster's City Council is considering a resolution that would enable the community's service safety director to work up specifications to enable people to bid on the building, and to sell it if a reasonable bid is received.

Mike Fracassa, the 2nd Ward councilman, said the plan is to market the property more aggressively to see if it will capture the attention of potential buyers. The council is considering an advertising campaign to try and find bidders.

In 2013, Dave Smith, Lancaster's mayor, proposed demolishing the building, only to run into strong opposition from both the city council and members of the community, who demonstrated in front of the Mithoff in order to save it. The demolition was eventually canceled. Following these events, the mayor and city council agreed to try to find investors who would step in to save the building.

Fracassa noted that there have not been any new developments from the local heritage association with regard to the building, so he wants to try once again to find someone to save and develop it.

City officials could work with brochure printers to create a booklet for distribution to commercial realtors, who could then present information about the building to their clients.