Forward Thinking
Home / Forward Thinking
Working with Municipalities to Address Blight
DeHoff Development is a go-to source for municipalities that struggle with areas that are eyesores, underperforming, or underutilized.
We apply decades of experience to help villages, townships, cities, and counties envision what land could be and then provide support on innovative funding through grants and foundations to see the project through to completion. Municipalities often cannot change something that they do not own. DeHoff Development introduces ways to gain control and implement your vision. We will simply help you identify the highest and best use of the land.
“We’ve worked on projects at the federal, state, and local level to design, fund, and manage projects that make communities stronger.” – Bob DeHoff
DeHoff Development worked with the City of Canton to address a 140-acre area on the southwest side that was in poor repair. The Mills Business Park brought together the public and private sector to develop a Class A Business Park within city limits.
The land, which was annexed to the city 20 years ago, was intended to be a business park, but no investors came forward. The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the DeHoff Family Foundation partnered on the project and DeHoff Development served as project manager.
A thriving business center
Today, the Mills Business Park on Faircrest Street SW, is home to Medline Industries, Old Dominion Freight Lines, General Electric Oil & Gas, and I2R Power & Cable Company. Seventy acres are available for other tenants.
Mills Park has:
Improving Communities Through Partnerships
When groups come together, cities can change.
While DeHoff Development has transformed many properties on its own, it also has gathered groups of people with the same desire to convert properties into long-term centers of industry and commerce.
One example of these joint efforts is the Stark County Farm Business Park in the Village of Navarre. Six area foundations – Stark Community Foundation, The Hoover Foundation, The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Massillon Development Foundation, the Gessner Family Foundation, and the DeHoff Family Foundation – joined forces to create the Stark Board of Trade. With DeHoff Development as the project manager, this group invested and sought grants to convert 330 acres into a Class A Industrial Park.
“We align mission and vision with actions that benefit businesses, cities, and the region.” - Bob DeHoff
Hendrickson and Tractor Supply Co.
chose to build facilities on the property, and the results have been impressive:
Reinvestment
One of the unique aspects of the Stark Board of Trade is that profits from this venture will be reinvested into other projects, increasing this group’s potential to do good throughout Stark County.
“There are many tracts of land or buildings that could be reimagined into spaces that are attractive to businesses,” says Bob DeHoff. “We look for opportunities to make our communities stronger, and often, redevelopment is the answer.”
CASE STUDY 1
From Golf Course to Groceries
In Brimfield, a 150-acre abandoned golf course had endless possibilities but needed a vision. DeHoff Development saw beyond raw ground and created a redevelopment plan that included residential, retail, and industrial opportunities – all on the same site.
Through thoughtful execution, the land was designed wisely for segmentation and growth. Yes, industrial operations can work near retail spaces! Two large anchors – Meijer and Menards – join Starbucks and other stores in the front. Industrial operations are growing behind the shopping center. And housing is lining the perimeter of the property … with room for growth in all three areas.
CASE STUDY 2
Foundations Become Cornerstones
Six foundations, united by DeHoff Development, came together to reimagine a 300+-acre tract of land. The mission? Attract jobs. Drive new income tax revenue. Build a sustainable model.
Through the funding provided by the foundations, including the DeHoff Family Foundation, and grants, the property was transformed into a manufacturing/industrial site, The Stark County Farm.
The first two companies that joined the complex, Hendrickson and Tractor Supply Co., have attracted nearly 700 jobs to the area … and there is room for more.
CASE STUDY 3
Serving Neighbors and Visitors
It’s hard to picture the corner of East Maple Street and Market Avenue as anything but Washington Square. Today, it serves as a primary shopping center, office park, and neighborhood in North Canton, anchored by a grocery store, one of the busiest Starbucks in the state, and well-kept offices and retail stores.
To develop this property, DeHoff Development had to envision a community-based hub in what was a “standard” neighborhood. From zoning to helping pass liquor licenses, DeHoff Development shepherded every step of the process.
Washington Square is now a centerpiece of North Canton, attracting thousands of people daily.
CASE STUDY 4
Modern eateries and stories near a college
Positioned perfectly to serve a thriving community and a nearby university, Mount Union Gateway offers retail, restaurant, and service businesses a convenient location to draw customers.
Mount Union Gateway has become a primary center for shopping and food in Alliance.
National brands have discovered that Mount Union Gateway offers growth opportunities.
Contact DeHoff Development with your project
DeHoff Development can help your community address blight in creative, yet realistic, ways. Call our office at 330.499.8153 or for more information on our inspired community development projects, visit our mission-focused organization, Impact Development Company.