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East Tower Project Approved by City of Tiffin Architectural Board of Review

December 3, 2025

TIFFIN, OHIO – December 3, 2025 – The City of Tiffin’s Architectural Board of Review (ABR) approved the exterior design and renovation plans for the East Tower project this week.  The project includes a complete renovation of the East Tower building to create luxury apartments and a ground level commercial space intended for a future food and beverage operation. 

The renovation includes a new addition on the south side of the building with a footprint of 1,387 square feet over three floors. The addition is designed to cover the demolition remains of the former high school’s southern wing, as well as add over 4,000 square feet. The addition will become the new main entrance, and contain an elevator, exit stairs, lobby area, as well as more apartment space..

The project also includes construction of eight garages, to be maintained in two garage buildings on the south side of the property adjacent to the building addition.

“This approval keeps the East Tower restoration and repurposing moving forward and allows us to advance to the next phase of work,” said owner Andrew Kalnow, “The plan preserves the building’s historic character while adding the infrastructure needed for long-term use, including housing and a commercial space that can support downtown activity.”

Built in 1893, the East Tower building features a compatible combination of Romanesque and Gothic Revival architectural styles. The building originally housed Columbian High School and later East Junior High. It is located at the corner of East Market Street and Jefferson Street.

The building was purchased in 2012 by Andrew Kalnow, Chairman and CEO of National Machinery LLC, with the stated intent of ultimately restoring and repurposing the structure for continued use and supporting downtown Tiffin revitalization.

For more information, visit https://www.easttowertiffin.com.

 

[Pictured: Rendering of East Tower]

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About Downtown Tiffin
The revitalization of Downtown Tiffin began in 2011 with the formation of Tiffin Tomorrow, a grassroots initiative led by community members dedicated to promoting economic development and ensuring the long-term prosperity of the downtown district. In 2014, the City of Tiffin partnered with local organizations to serve as the official downtown development entity. Tiffin Tomorrow was incorporated into this effort, which now operates under the Seneca County Collaborative as the Downtown Development Board, the governing body for downtown revitalization efforts.

Since 2015, Downtown Tiffin has proudly participated in Heritage Ohio’s Main Street Program, further strengthening its commitment to historic preservation, economic vitality, and community engagement. Downtown Tiffin is also recognized as a nationally accredited Main Street America Program. Learn more at www.DowntownTiffin.org.

 

About the Seneca County Collaborative
The Seneca County Collaborative brings together the Seneca Regional Chamber & Development, Downtown Tiffin, and Destination Seneca County under one unified structure to better serve the businesses, communities, and residents of Seneca County. This integrated approach aligns economic development, tourism, downtown revitalization, and business services to create greater impact, improve access to resources, and drive long-term success across the county. Learn more at www.OneSeneca.org.



About Downtown Tiffin

The revitalization of downtown Tiffin began in 2011, when a group of community members came together to form “Tiffin Tomorrow”, with the goal of promoting and encouraging economic development in Downtown Tiffin, and creating plans, programs, and actions to ensure long-term vitality and prosperity. In 2014, the City of Tiffin contracted with SIEDC to act as the downtown organization and “Tiffin Tomorrow” came under the SIEDC (now TSEP) umbrella as the “Downtown Development Board,” which serves as the governing board of the downtown organization. In 2015, Tiffin joined Heritage Ohio’s Main Street Program. For more information, click here.

About Heritage Ohio

Heritage Ohio promotes economic growth through the preservation and revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods across Ohio. Heritage Ohio is the coordinating agency for the Ohio Main Street Program and is the designated statewide Ohio preservation partner with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Through saving the places that matter we can all build a community and live better. Learn more about how to become involved by visiting www.heritageohio.org.

About Main Street America

Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.

 
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