820 N. Washington St., Van Wert, OH

The property, owned by the Van Wert County Land Reutilization Corporation, is one of eight properties recently awarded money from the Ohio Building Demolition + Site Revitalization Program.

The building was originally a Holiday Inn, a Days Inn, and finally, the Van Wert Inn before Lock 16 Restaurant was there.

“The acquisition of this building shows true community collaboration. The building had sat empty for decades. Fifty percent of the funding to purchase the building came from the Business Development Corporation, then a quarter from the City of Van Wert, and a quarter from Van Wert County.”

- Krista Somerton, Van Wert County Land Reutilization Corporation

Funding for asbestos remediation + demolition came from two grants: a demolition grant and a Brownfield grant - administered by Van Wert Area Economic Development's program department.

As for what might happen with the old Van Wert Inn property, that's still undecided. The 7.75 acres; Zoned Commercial lot’s sale is pending with the Van Wert County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank). See property details.