Major Tax Credits for Historic Dairy and Candy Factory
Over the last year, the Designing Local team worked with the Lykens Companies to obtain State and Federal Historic Tax Credits on the BuddDairy Building on North Fourth Street and on a former candy factory on Detroit Avenue, both in Italian Village in Columbus, Ohio. The total tax credit amount will be approximately $5,000,000.00 and will be catalytic in the continued investment in Italian Village in Columbus.
THE BUDD DAIRY COMPANY
A Little History…
The Budd Dairy Company began as a small business in 1894 with direct delivery of milk from a farm in northeast Franklin County, and by 1906 it was operating from a facility located in north Columbus. The Budd Dairy building on North Fourth Street, which was described as one of the most advanced dairies in the country, was constructed in 1916 and included both the dairy building and a large brick garage for wagons and delivery vehicles. Increased production led to the construction of a second large brick garage in the early 1920s for additional delivery vehicles. By 1928, the property was purchased and operated by the Hamilton Milk Co. of Columbus, as part of the Borden Dairy, a large national company.
In 1929, during ownership by the Hamilton Milk Company, the second garage was expanded and a third garage was built. Borden purchased the buildings in 1934, at its current size and continued to operate it as a dairy until 1967. The expansion of the property took place in a relatively short period of time – 1916 to 1929, which reflects the increased production capacity of the facility and its direct delivery to customers. The building is distinctive architecturally with a highly decorative exterior which is an important visual landmark in the Italian Village neighborhood. It also had a large meeting space on the second floor, which was used for company events, as well as dances, parties and events by the public. It is clear that William T. Budd, President of the company and his architect David Riebel, made a conscious effort to create a facility that was representative of the company “brand” and that was a good neighbor to the surrounding area.
The Budd Dairy buildings will be converted to restaurant and office space. The historic parcel will be the center of a larger development by the Lykens Companies. Read more about the larger development here.
COLUMBUS CANDY FACTORY
A Little History…
The Columbus Candy Factory was built around 1920 as an industrial factory building, housing the Columbus Candy Company. The building features a distinctive brick parapet and is of vernacular industrial character. The Candy Factory building continues to contribute to the Italian Village Historic District as an industrial style brick warehouse building, of which, there are not many remaining. This is one of the few buildings remaining and is of a heightened architectural quality that is not significantly altered, within the Village. A vast majority of the other manufacturing and warehouse buildings in the District have been demolished since the 1960’s.
The Candy Factory on Detroit Avenue is currently a vacant warehouse and will be turned into 20 residential apartment units. Read more about the project here.