The Argyle apartment building burning to the ground created may problems for the City of Findlay. One of them rather large, a big giant hole in the middle of downtown. Since the area has been cleared many options have been thrown out as to what should become of the vacant space. Elaine Bruggeman, owner of Main Street Deli and Bakery, believes the success of a city comes from the success of the downtown.
"For a lively downtown you normally need places for people to shop, visit, you also need people to live there. To care about their living environment. That makes a healthy vibrant downtown." said Bruggeman.
Mayor Lydia Mihalik doesn't want parking spaces or green space on the property and feels there is great opportunity for business and jobs.
Mihalik said, "The area, given it's location to the heart of most of our jobs in downtown it would be a nice place to have some sort of private investment for the future."
John Bauer, President of Findlay Downtown Area Association said "this is a prime location in downtown and we expect that kind of multi million dollar investment to pop up here as well. It will be, I guarantee you, a quality location and quality development. Whatever that might be."
According to Mark Stapp from the School of Business at Arizona State University it would pricey to rebuild. Anywhere between ten and fourteen million dollars. Longtime resident Tom Brown would like to see a new building, but understands the economy may dictate that.
"You can't help but accept that as your businesses disappear from your downtown areas and drawn on the outskirts that that's where you have to go shop. It's something that you don't want to see but it's the reality of modern day life." said Brown.
According to Stapp, tax abatement or other tax incentives or low interest loans could help with rebuilding on the current location. Critics are now saying if they do nothing further in developing the property, the city could be facing a loss in income, tax revenue and jobs.
