City Lofts accepting tenants

The establishment of City Lofts in downtown Fostoria addresses a need in the community, say the principals in the project. The opening of eight apartments at the upper levels of the building at 146 W. Center St., doesn't solve the housing shortage in Fostoria, but it contributes to a solution. A Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting took place Tuesday at the structure, which houses the United Way of Fostoria and the Beyond Laser Creations store on the ground level. "I've owned the building since 2011 or so and I just wanted to make the upstairs useful again," said Ford Mennel, who is also president of the Mennel Milling Company in Fostoria. "The housing study the (Fostoria Economic Development Corporation) has done shows there's a shortage of units, so, hopefully, that means there will be a demand for these." One of the apartments is already occupied among the six one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom units that were developed in the renovation. "We absolutely need it," FEDC President Renee Smith said of the complex. "We continue to struggle with a housing shortage in the community. We're not any different than anywhere else. ... It's projects like this that help us kind of fill that gap. We just need to continue to see these types of developments." Chamber of Commerce Director Jocelyn Reinhart-Scaife said the apartments serve the needs of different types of tenants while having proximity to almost any location of need. "The hope is people will see a great option for rentals in town," she said. "Being close to everything downtown -- walking distance to the YMCA, the library, the grocery store, restaurants, the brewery," Mennel cited as advantages offered by the complex. "It seems that younger generations don't want to own homes. They want to rent, and this would be close to where all the activities are. The 100 block of Main and Center is as centrally located as you can get downtown." Rent for the one-bedroom units is $750 per month, with the two-bedroom apartments priced at $1,100 per month. Tenants are responsible for electricity and water bills, while Mennel takes care of trash collection and snow removal. "It's competitive with the area," Mennel said of the rental prices. "Findlay and Tiffin are a little bit higher. It is pushing rental rates in Fostoria a little bit, but it's that there's really no new-construction units available in the market. With the cost of construction, rental rates are up a little higher than what I'd hoped to make all of the numbers work." Mennel said it's nice to be taking part in the upswing of activity that new businesses have been bringing to the downtown area. "If every building downtown improves a little bit, downtown starts looking better," he said. The Mennel Milling Company may be reached by calling 419-435-8151.