Chinese investors, who paid $1.2 million for the former Westinghouse building known as the Commerce Center at 246 E. Fourth St. in June, have expressed interest in purchasing the adjacent 17-acre Westinghouse site between Fourth and Fifth streets.
The adjacent property is owned by the Richland County Land Bank.
There are few details about the future of the 1936-built building, which sits on more than 5 acres next to railroad tracks in an industrial area.
The Westinghouse property between Fourth and Fifth streets has undergone extensive cleanup and remediation over the last four years, including the demolition of the former Westinghouse “A” building.
Its future is currently uncertain and unclear.
“The Richland County Board of Commissioners remains in communication with state and federal representatives regarding the purchase of the former Westinghouse building known as the Commerce Center by Chinese investors,” the commissioners’ office said in response to a News Journal request for comment.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State, the former Westinghouse building’s limited liability company will be known as MFOH Investments beginning March 20, 2025. Jerod Them of Weldon and Co., Mansfield attorneys, serves as the statutory agent.
They could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Richland County Auditor’s Office reported that Mansfield Commerce Center LLC sold 246 E. Fourth St. (two parcels) to MFOH Investment LLC for $1.2 million. The LLC’s mailing address is 7075 Kingspointe Parkway, Suite 9. Orlando, Florida 32819.
Amy Hamrick, executive director of the Richland County Land Bank, said she spoke with Grace Ren of US Reliance Realty several times over the phone about the former Westinghouse property at 246 E. Fourth St. and met with her twice in person.
She stated that Ren had several plans for the building, including a display room for various Chinese manufacturers of products made in China. Ren gave Hamrick examples that included handheld paper fans and a boutique hotel.
“She mentioned she had an interest in the Westinghouse site (between Fourth and Fifth streets), but nothing official has been submitted to the Land Bank,” Hamrick told me.
“She also mentioned she had an interest in purchasing property by the airport (Mansfield Lahm Airport),” Hamrick informed me.
Hamrick stated that she informed Ren that the Land Bank board would have to wait to see what her investors did to develop the former Mansfield Commerce Center building before considering selling the adjacent 17 acres of open space known as the Westinghouse site.
The potential use and ownership of the land has sparked interest, and local officials are monitoring its future.
“While we certainly welcome outside investment in our community, in light of the ongoing national security concerns, we approach these situations with caution,” Jodie Perry, Mansfield’s mayor, said. “Ms. Ren presented an ambitious set of ideas, and we are keeping an open mind until we hear more about the plans for the facility and what other ideas they may have.”
Earlier this year, Hamrick stated that Ren visited Mansfield to speak with Land Bank executive committee members. Hamrick was not in attendance because she was on jury duty.
Despite repeated attempts by the News Journal, Ren has yet to respond to a request for comment.
Interest in former Westinghouse properties
In August 2024, a Lexington and Mansfield-raised developer presented his vision for the former Westinghouse property to Richland County Land Bank officials.
Marquise Stillwell, who lives in New York City and represents The Lo Do (lower downtown) Development Group, said he owns several businesses, including his design firm, OpenBox, which has collaborated with architects and national developers to build projects all over the country.
Stillwell had previously spoken with Mayor Perry, Richland County Commissioner Tony Vero, and others about his plans to develop the former Westinghouse site. Others in the room were learning about Stillwell’s vision for the first time.
“Our vision is to develop lower downtown Mansfield into a purpose-filled community hub, a new kind of space to live, work and play,” said Stillwell at the time. “We’re not going into the specifics of what is the programming of the space because there’s a lot of research we still need to do, but we do understand there are these components that create a vibrant hub that’s connected 360 degrees with the city.”
Past plans for property never materialized
In 2022, the News Journal reported that a proposal was in the works to create an annual multi-floor haunted attraction in the former Westinghouse building for Halloween 2023. That did not materialize.
Then, in January 2023, owners received conditional use occupancy permits to begin work on converting the former five-story Mansfield Commerce Center into a mixed-use industrial warehouse/activities center/housing complex.
Joe Curry, the building’s owner at the time, shared his plans for the former industrial building. Curry received approval from the Mansfield Planning Commission to begin work, subject to some upgrades.
Several members of the Mansfield Fire Department, including former Chief Steve Strickling, attended the meeting to discuss how the department does not have information on water flow on all floors. Floors three, four, and five of the 246 E. Fourth St. building do not currently have fire suppression or sprinkler systems. The News Journal previously reported that all of these things must be completed.
17-acre Westinghouse site needs soil samplings
The Land Bank has scheduled the demolition and cleanup of the former Westinghouse site between Fourth and Fifth streets for August 2021, with a $3 million state grant to help cover the $4 million project. Demolition started in December 2022. Contractors experienced numerous delays and surprises, including deep pits filled with water and a lot of thick concrete.
The Land Bank still needs to conduct soil samplings, and based on the results, Hamrick said the site could be completed or more soil removed. She stated that the Land Bank must also complete some paperwork with the EPA, such as a covenant not to sue.
