Hearing from the mayor of Ashland, Matt Miller, he explained some changes coming to Ashland. Starting at the SR 71 and 250 intersection, land has been acquired for additional retail shopping. Investment companies have been researching the Ashland area and have found that Ashland is a prime area for additional retail shopping. They found that Ashland residents go to other communities to do their shopping and they want to come to us. Talk of companies like TJ-Max, Meijer’s, and Kroger were all discussed as options. Ashland residents should be very happy with these plans. The land has been purchased and the development is in the works. It will be interesting to see what happens out there.

A new oil change business is being built beside the car wash in front of Walmart. Other opportunities are being discussed for additional development at that location.

The city has been given a grant for new sidewalks to be installed on the 250 corridor from Sugarbush to SR 71 on the north side. New wide sidewalks for walking, bicycling, and wheelchair scooters will be installed on the south side. This will provide access for pedestrians to get to the new and existing retail shopping. Along with the new sidewalks, the streetlights at the intersections will be replaced with pedestrian crosswalks.

Paving of city streets will continue. Claremont Avenue will be resurfaced from Smith Road down toward town. Sandusky Street will be resurfaced from Cottage Street out toward the city limits. The bridge replacement on West Main Street continues and will be completed this fall. The bridge on East Main Street just past Dairy Queen will probably be replaced next year.

Downtown is thriving and growing. The Well bar has been sold and renovations are underway. Ashley’s Candy Shop is expanding into this space. The new restrooms by Foundation Park will soon be complete. Activities downtown continue to grow.

Housing developments are continuing to be studied. Apartments on 4^th Street will begin soon with multiple apartment buildings being built on the north side of 4th Street as Phase One. Phase Two will include additional apartment buildings on the south side of 4^th Street. The Pump House building has been acquired and plans to renovate the building into a hotel is in process. Other housing developments are being planned in the Ashland area. A condo development is in the works located off Smith Road behind the Lutheran Church. Developments for single family homes are also being discussed and plans are getting closer to being a reality.

The outlook for Ashland is very good. We are seeing interest in Ashland as never before. We look forward to seeing the changes coming to Ashland. We thank Mayor Matt Miller for the hard work he has done for the Ashland community and look forward to the great future of Ashland.

Written By: Realtor Greg Gault