Foundation secures $100K for Sullivan Building restoration in downtown Newark

NEWARK — The Licking County Foundation received an Ohio Capital Budget appropriation of $100,000 for 2023-24 for restoration of the historic Louis Sullivan Building in downtown Newark.

The money will be used for the remaining restoration work on the building’s interior and adjacent annex.

It is the third appropriation received for the foundation’s Sullivan Building project, for a total state investment of $839,000. State Rep. Mark Fraizer, R-Newark, and State Sen. Jay Hottinger, R-Newark, helped secure the funding, along with support for seven Licking County capital improvement projects in the biennial capital budget.

The Louis Sullivan Building in Newark is the sixth of eight small Midwest “jewel box” bank buildings designed by the noted Chicago architect late in his career.

The foundation received the building as a gift in 2013 and has been restoring the structure and the adjacent building at 10 W. Main for reuse as the new home of Explore Licking County, the region’s travel and tourism bureau.

In addition to offices, the rehabilitated building will house a visitor center, educational displays detailing the history of the building and its restoration, and meeting and event space. To maintain historic value, the building will have a second access through an annex building at 10 W. Main St., that will house an elevator and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant stairs to all three floors.

The restoration, which began in 2019 with the restoration of the exterior, is expected to be completed in 2023.