Boutique hotel project receives facade grant

TIFFIN – On Wednesday, it was announced that the Tiffin Boutique Hotel Group received $10,000 through the downtown Tiffin facade enhancement grant. The grant will be applied to the restoration of the windows at the former Gibson Hotel building, 160, 162, 164 S. Washington Street, as part of the building's re-development into a "nearly $10 million boutique hotel project," according to a press release from Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership. 26 local investors and a combination of local, state and federal funding have made advancements in the project possible. Some of the financial resources are a 12-year, 100% Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) tax exemption, over $2 million in state and federal historic tax credits and a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan from NOPEC. Melissa Calvin of Superior Credit Union who is providing financing, has also contributed to the project. The project also received $1,040,00 in state tax credit to support the rehabilitation of the building through the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. The Tiffin Boutique Hotel will include 26 rooms and suites, two ground-floor retail spaces and a cocktail bar along with energy-efficient upgrades that will bring modernity to the building. However, historical aspects of the building such as the original staircase and skylight will be restored. "The collision of two loves: saving old buildings and staying in small, unique boutique hotels when we travel," Jeff Weber, representative of Tiffin Boutique Hotel Group LLC, told the A-T about the inspiration for the project. "Places where people have put their heart, soul, and artistic expression into guest experiences. Marry those two with the fact Tiffin has no place to stay in its walkable historic Downtown and we thought it was a formula for success." The company spent a year on studies to ensure the project was fulfilling a need, Weber said, along with utilizing engineers and preservation consultants to verify the building could be "brought back to its glory." The project was green-lit by everyone involved so the company purchased the building. "That led to a year finalizing architectural plans," he concluded. "Applying for State of Ohio and Federal Historic Tax Credit funding. And then Covid hit. Hotel financing came to a screeching halt. Two long years later, a wonderful group of local investors and Superior Credit Union shared our vision and stepped up to put 'The Gibson' over the top. Without their help we would not have been able to make our dream a reality. Tiffin really is a wonderful city, made up of wonderful people." Melissa Calvin of Superior Credit Union shared how her company's mission aligns with providing financing for the construction phase of this project. The mission of Superior Credit Union is to "build trusted relationships by delivering personalized financial solutions." "Bringing the historic Gibson Hotel back to life through financing with the Tiffin Boutique Hotel Group fulfills our commitments of working in our members' best interest, helping build the financial future of the Tiffin community, and providing a product and service relevant to their needs," Calvin concluded. "We are excited to see the growth and renovation of this beautiful space and are proud to be the finance partner." According to TSEP, construction for the Tiffin Boutique Hotel is scheduled to begin in the spring, which Tiffin Mayor Lee Wilkinson says, "embodies the spirit of Tiffin" by "honoring our history while building for the future." "This is another milestone in the revitalization of Downtown Tiffin, made possible by strong community support and innovative programs like the Façade Enhancement Grant," he concluded.