6-story apt. building approved for downtown Tiffin

During a meeting of the City of Tiffin Architectural Board of Review, the board approved the new construction of a multi-family apartment building. The project, owned by Tiffin Riverfront Development, LLC, will be located at the site of Kear's Speed Shop, 6 E. Market St. The six-story (73-foot) project will house 70 units. The project has been the topic of negotiations between the board and applicant Eduardo Hernando, the project's developer, for months. "This is big for Tiffin," Hernando said. "Not us, but Tiffin." Following an initial denial of Riverfront Development's application, discussions have been ongoing between each side. The board had concerns over the size and scale of the building project in relation to neighboring buildings, worrying it would hinder the view of the Tiffin skyline. The board members voting in favor of the project Tuesday were Tony Consolo, Jodie Reinbolt, Brook Edwards and Dan Brickner. Voting against the proposed project was Chairman John Huss. Huss said he believes the building will "overwhelm" the surrounding buildings. "I don't want it to be the key building downtown," Huss said. During the meeting, City Engineer Matt Watson presented examples of similar size and scale buildings to the proposed project. Some of the buildings preceded the Architectural Board of Review. Watson said the proposed building's footprint has less area than the current building on the site and has less area than other buildings currently located within the ABR district. In addition, the building's height is only approximately seven feet taller than the existing Shawhan Hotel. Another concern the board had initially expressed was setting a precedent for future development in the downtown area. Watson said the precedent had already been set by the Shawhan Hotel.