Land acquisition continues for Main Street Beach project

The Western Reserve Land Conservancy is continuing its work with the city of Vermilion through a few ordinances regarding land acquisition in part of the Main Street Beach revitalization project.

Of the three ordinances brought to Vermilion City Council’s Legislative Committee on Oct. 19, two of them authorized grant applications be sent to the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Ohio Office of Coastal Management programs.

Another ordinance pertains to a purchase and sale agreement between the land conservancy and the city of Vermilion.

Andy McDowell, vice president of western field operations at the agency, said the city is no stranger to these funding programs.

“Both of these are grants that we’ve utilized in the past for other land acquisition on the beachfront,” McDowell said.

This particular land acquisition is for the area of the beachfront that would be the future parking lot for the revitalization project, which will be adjacent to a restroom facility, McDowell said.

With the purchase and sales agreement, McDowell said the ordinance would allow for seller of the property, DPTA LLC., to either close or transfer to, depending on whether the city wanted to close or transfer the property.

These grant applications with the goal of land acquisition would not present the same issue as does the Wakefield mansion property, which cannot be used for commercial use due to grant stipulations the city must follow, he said.

“Both grant sources are well aware of that and both of these grant sources, especially the Land and Water Conservation Fund, have often funded projects that you’re not turning it into green space, you’re turning it in for other infrastructure to add to the overall park environment of that area,” McDowell said.

The ordinances were reviewed again at the following Oct. 19 council meeting, where members passed all three ordinances with the suspension of rules and emergency.

Another ordinance pertains to a purchase and sale agreement between the land conservancy and the city of Vermilion.

PHOTOS BY JORDANA JOY —THE MORNING JOURNAL Vermilion’s Main Street Beach may be seeing a new parking lot, among other amenities, in part of the revitalization project through Western Reserve Land Conservancy. Ordinances for the land acquisition of this piece of beachfront were passed by council Oct. 19.

Vermilion’s Main Street Beach may be seeing a new parking lot, among other new amenities, in part of the revitalization project through Western Reserve Land Conservancy.