MOUNT VERNON — It was a one-man show at the auction for the old armory building on Wednesday. One bidder, one bid.
Today, Dick Willinger, speaking on behalf of the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department, accepted a bid of $25,000 for the armory that was submitted by local businessman Mark Ramser. The department has jurisdiction over the building.
Wednesday, Auctioneer Paul Lehman told Ramser that the AGD wouldn’t let it go for a song. The building, located on Mansfield Avenue, was recently appraised at $135,000.
“There will be a bargain today, but $1 will not buy it,” Lehman said at the auction. “Make sure the bid is strong.”
Ramser, who was the sole bidder, asked a number of questions, including how the final sale price of other armory buildings in Ohio sold at auction compared with the appraised value. He ultimately submitted a bid of $25,000.
Ramser said he has no plans for the armory at this time. The P-1 (public use) zoning is a factor for him, since this classification can be somewhat limiting as far the building’s future use.
One of the few people at the auction was Mount Vernon City Councilman Mike Hillier.
“I was glad to see Mr. Ramser was the bidder,” said Hillier. “He’s done a lot of good for Mount Vernon.”
Ramser has purchased and helped revive and rehabilitate a number of other historic downtown buildings. He recently donated the old Stage building, which had fallen into disuse, to the Mount Vernon Nazarene University for use as an adult and graduate center.
Mount Vernon City Council and the Knox County Board of Commissioners were given the first crack at buying the armory building earlier this year. Both passed. Members of council raised concerns that the armory could fall into the wrong hands, and become an eyesore and nuisance like the old middle school on Mulberry Street.
“With Mark Ramser, we’re not going to have another [old] middle school,” Hillier said, adding that he would be open-minded on possible zoning changes for the building in the future.
Lehman said the National Guard, which used the building until 2005, has shifted away from the use of armory buildings, moving toward a regionalized approach using “readiness centers.” He said he has acted as auctioneer for the adjutant general in the sale of about 20 other armory buildings throughout Ohio.
