Project Overview

In 2016, WCPA funded a grant to the developers 146 Dixie Highway LLC, which bears the name of the address of the facility.  The grant which was provided as part of a Real Estate Purchase Agreement was to be utilized for the purpose of helping defray the cost of demolition. For a long time, this aging building was considered unsalvageable, but $4 million dollars and a lot of hard work proved that the doomsayers were wrong. The Wood County Port Authority made a commitment to help invest in the community of Rossford by providing the grant and helped make this project feasible.  Kevin Gray, founder, and owner of ISP operates a 100,000 sq foot fabrication facility across the street and uses the Old Ford Club Building as their office. The building sits at the entrance of the City of Rossford and is now helps let visitors know that Rossford is interested in preserving its heritage and its historical building structures

Prior to 2016, a Northwestern Ohio Contracting company, Veluscek, and Heban owned the old Ford Social Club Property located at 146 Dixie Highway in Rossford.  On December 21, 2016, Veluscek and Heban sold the property and the business held by the ‘146 Dixie Highway, LLC’.  

Prior to the date of transfer, Veluscek and Heban began the demolition on the interior of the structure as reported by Neil McKinnon, the Mayor of Rossford.  During the period of the demolition, Veluscek and Heban were in negotiations with IPS and had reached an agreement to purchase the building once all conditions have been met.

The Wood County Port Authority was approached in the fall of 2016 and was asked to provide assistance to Veluscek and Heban in meeting the conditions of the agreement they had with IPS.  One of the primary conditions was the complete removal of all asbestos hazards and clearance by both the state and federal governments. In addition, it had to pass all the environmental standards required.

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