Business

$10 million investment to transform historic Glass Press buildings in downtown Marietta

MARIETTA - The owner of a long-vacant pair of historic buildings in downtown Marietta announced on Tuesday a $10 million redevelopment plan Tuesday in partnership with state and local development agencies.

The project is intended to transform the Glass Press buildings at 212 Putnam St. and 217 Union St. into "a vibrant mixed-use destination featuring housing, dining, office space and new opportunities for community connection," according to a press release from Ohio Southeast Economic Development and JobsOhio.

Built in 1900 and 1906, the buildings housed everything from a furniture and music store to a publishing company before they were purchased by Ataraxia Properties in 2023. According to the release, the project involves "the adaptive reuse of 43,800 square feet across two connected historic buildings." The renovated structures will contain apartments on the upper floors, with a coffee shop, offices and a food hall occupying the ground-floor commercial spaces.

The Glass Press buildings have a rich history, serving as locations of prominent Marietta businesses for over 100 years, according to the press release.

"The Glass Press buildings helped build Marietta once. Now they'll help build its future and bring new energy to downtown," said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. "A project of this size wouldn't have been possible without strong collaboration alongside OhioSE, SEOPA (the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority), the City of Marietta, and the local developer to preserve a piece of the city's history and create new office space, housing, dining and gathering spaces for the community."

Work will include exterior masonry repair, installation of new compatible windows, replacement of roofing systems and full upgrades to building systems, according to the press release. Interior work will focus on removal of non-historic alterations, restoration of historic materials and reconfiguration of layouts to support contemporary uses, it added.

"After more than two years of extensive planning, coordination, and dedication, we are incredibly excited to be approaching the start of construction on the Glass Press Project," said Seth Murphy, manager of Ataraxia Properties. "From the beginning, our vision has been to breathe new life into these historic buildings while creating something truly special for downtown Marietta and the surrounding community."

The project is supported by $2.5 million in State Historic Tax Credits and a $1 million Vibrant Community Grant from JobsOhio.

The JobsOhio Vibrant Communities Program offers competitive grants for development projects that help transform areas within a distressed community, the release said. Eligible projects include mixed-use projects, real estate development projects, and operated shared spaces that meet the JobsOhio project criteria.

"Redeveloping the Glass Press buildings represents the kind of bold, forward-looking investment our community deserves," said Jesse Roush, former president and CEO of the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority. "This project will preserve an irreplaceable piece of Marietta's history while creating new housing, dining, and gathering spaces in the heart of downtown.

"We are proud to help transform a long-vacant landmark into a vibrant destination that will strengthen downtown Marietta for generations to come."