New owner envisions new uses for Mansfield Ohio's City Mills building

The new owner of the historic City Mills building on North Main Street plans to turn the upper floors into living quarters.

Zachary Zolman, 35, who is a Northmor High School graduate, south of Galion, said his dream is to give something back to the people of Mansfield. The project is contingent on receiving a $250,000 grant from the city of Mansfield earmarked for people wanting to create housing in old buildings. Zolman has been working with Downtown Mansfield Inc.

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He said his plans include converting the upper three floors into residential space with the attraction being the interior, exposed red brick walls, thick wood beams and view from the large windows.

The stately building was previously owned by Mick Tridico, longtime downtown businessman and antiques collector.

The property transferred Oct. 15 to ZOL Properties LLC for $265,000, according to the Richland County Auditor's Office.

The downtown Mansfield building is one of the oldest commercial buildings in Richland County. The former mill made different kinds of flour and was built in 1846, the News Journal reported in past stories. The City Mills building features an artesian well in the basement and a freight elevator.

Before the building was erected, 1,300 loads of filled ground and swamp muck had to be removed from the low-lying ground site, and almost 15,000 cubic feet of stone work was brought in for the foundation, according to News Journal archives.

Records show the building was used as a warehouse for the Sandusky B&O railroad as early as 1847. Converted to a flour mill in 1865, the building was considered modern for its time, and was able to process some 200 barrels of flour per day, according to records.

The building was added to the National List of Historical Landmarks in 1986.

Zolman said he must have drafts drawn up and multiple contractor bids in the next couple weeks. The freight elevator upgrade and installation of plumbing are two major upgrades.

Zolman, who is a U.S. Army veteran, said he didn't realize how many people knew the building had sold until he met some downtown neighbors.

"We're blessed to have the opportunity to do this for people," he said. "We saw this building. We love Mansfield. We care about Mansfield. We wanted to be able to turn this into something that will make everybody around us happy and a better place."

More:Richland County property transfers recorded Oct. 7-11

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