Mansfield’s downtown is set for a serious glow-up after a longtime local family handed over 14 historic brick buildings to the Richland County Foundation. That gift jump-starts “Downtown Forward,” an estimated $25 million plan to convert roughly 180,000 square feet around the Brickyard into about 95 apartments, plus retail and community space. Officials say construction is expected to begin this August and wrap up by 2028.
City Backing And Incentives
Allie Watson, president and CEO of the Richland County Foundation, said the property owners first approached the foundation about the gift two years ago and that the move should “revitalize and create vibrancy in downtown Mansfield,” according to News 5 Cleveland. The station also reported that officials are aiming to kick off work in August and complete the initial phase by 2028.
What The Council Approved
Mansfield City Council unanimously signed off on a 75 percent tax abatement for 12 years to help support the redevelopment. The vote is meant to strengthen applications for historic-preservation and transformational mixed‑use tax credits, according to Richland Source. Under the plan, the Richland County Foundation will retain ownership of the donated properties, while Windsor Companies will manage development and operations.
Developer's Plan For Phase One
In a presentation to city council, Windsor Companies laid out Phase I, which covers the 14 buildings totaling about 180,000 square feet. The first wave is slated to deliver roughly 95 rental units, a community center, event space and activated ground-floor storefronts. The presentation notes that early work will focus largely on interior restoration while parking and other logistics get hammered out.
Local Reaction
Downtown business owners are cautiously optimistic, saying more residents might be the missing ingredient for a stronger core. Braxton Daniels, owner of The 101 Tea Company, told News 5 Cleveland he expects “lights in the windows” and more customers, adding that a larger downtown population will help sustain shops and restaurants.
How This Fits The County's Housing Picture
The effort plugs into a larger regional problem. A 2023 Richland County housing needs assessment projected the county will need roughly 2,700 additional affordable rental units by 2032. The report recommended both new construction and rehabilitation of vacant units, along with zoning and permitting reforms to speed up attainable housing development. Downtown Forward is one local response to those recommendations (Richland County Housing Needs and Action Plan).
Next Steps
Officials said the foundation and Windsor plan to pursue historic-preservation and transformational mixed‑use tax credits to make the numbers work, and they hope to know by June whether those applications are approved, per Richland Source. More public meetings are expected as construction details, leasing plans and parking solutions are finalized.
If Downtown Forward stays on schedule, local leaders say it could bring a steady stream of new residents and fresh business activity to Mansfield’s core for years to come. Foundation and city officials emphasized that the project is designed to preserve historic buildings while boosting downtown commerce and housing over the long term.
