When searching for a building to buy in today's market, things have changed. Prior to Covid-19, comparable buildings could be located in a crowded busy downtown or in a quiet suburban setting as long as it matched the search criteria. With Covid-19, those crowded busy downtown's and other similar settings have become less desirable and businesses are moving out to the suburbs or the smaller downtown's. The reason, the employees are scared, nervous and concerned about having to work in a crowded high-touch environment that they're employers are powerless to control beyond their own space providing greater exposure to the virus that the employees could bring home and transmit to their families.
The value of a building has changed from the way you looked at it before.
When employees are scared to come to work, you know what happens, there is an increase in absenteeism, an increase in sick calls and subsequently, an increase in 2-week notices. Depending upon your location you may even have a difficult time attracting quality talent. Covid-19 is estimated to be around for years to come and there will be no escaping its impact in the work environment.
Business is broken out into the Pre-COVID Era where we might have struggled, but there was always hope to carry us through with the chance of prosperity and now, we are in the era that is referred too as the Covid Years. This time, the difference is that Covid-19 has turned the business world upside down where hope has been challenged with unimaginable business closures and constricting regulations that are changing the face of industries as we once knew them.
The Bat hanging upside down laughs at the Topsy-turvy world.
Proverb.
Happy or Disengaged Employees, how much is it costing you? When that translates into dollars, you're looking at the cost of 34% of a disengaged employee’s annual salary, or $3,400 for every $10,000 they make. 34% of $47,000 or the average annual salary in the United states = $15,980. Employers have tried to motivate and relieve boredom through different types of artificial distractions such as a juice bar, ping pong table, TV room, espresso/coffee station, etc.
These types of distractions become short lived and become part of the new norm losing the appeal that it was intended for. Something else happened that no one ever anticipated, Covid-19. With Covid-19 these distractions and perks have and are being eliminated as they are high touch items that cannot be cleaned and as such, are a high risk of spreading the infection. Perks will still be offered, but getting them in a sealed plastic bag is just not the same anymore.
Look at these numbers: According to data from Achievers, just 35% of employees are planning to look for a new job and only 21% are highly engaged. Having only 35% looking for a new job might sound like a low number, but that suggests something that is troubling. If you add the 35% of those looking for a new job to the 21% of those employees that are engaged that totals 56% of the total work force leaving a balance of 44%. That 44% is complacent in that they are there just for the paycheck, which means they're doing enough to avoid being fired, but aren't likely to go above and beyond their primary responsibilities.
On the bright side, of this 35% looking for a new job, the company has the opportunity of picking up employees that may become engaged in the company providing a better return on investment whereas the other 44% need to be motivated to become engaged. When surveys show that a company is paying for 100% of the employees efficiency and productivity and only 21% of the employees are engaged to go above and beyond their primary responsibilities whereas the other 79% are there just for the paycheck just doing enough to avoid being fired and are not likely to go above and beyond their primary responsibilities, how a company is able to survive and prosper is always at risk.
When you factor in Covid-19, the virus attack the physical, psychological and emotional health of the employees. The employers are then at a greater risk of losing employee loyalty as the employees are scared with having to navigate the crowded streets or the public transportation just to make it to work and doing it all over again when they leave work. During the day the pressure doesn't ease up if they have errands to run or if they want to go out of the building for lunch as they are once again back out into a crowded environment. If you have space in a larger building you have protocols until you reach your own office. Your own office might be safer, but you have now become an island within a building. You may control your own space, but you have no control once outside your leased premises. The only control that you have is to relocate your office to a location where your employees feel comfortable coming to work and then leaving the building during lunch time .
Imagine a location where the newness of perks and distractions never wears off as it continually replenishes itself and they are healthy, fun, with multiple choices? In an urban setting the trend is to try to get the employees outdoors. Walking or jogging paths are created and living foliage is added for the ambiance all that is artificial. Another option is to walk or jog through crowded streets which is not much of a choice and what about the bike riders and what about those that don’t jog or bike ride? At this business location you will go from artificial to authentic. This is a canal waterfront building with the Ohio & Erie Canal that is part of the County Park System. The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath is a 30 second walk from the building that extends 110 miles from downtown Cleveland to New Philadelphia where your employees can walk, jog, bike, fish, bird watch, wildlife photography and more. Running parallel to the canal is the Tuscarawas River where there is a kayak/canoe operation.
Mother Nature:
Have your people return back to the office refreshed, more efficient and productive.
Nature walks are linked to:
Enhanced mental health and positive feelings.
Significantly lowering levels of depression and feelings of stress.
Increases relaxation and improves stress management resulting in increased vitality and less anxiety, depression, and anger.
Improved focus.
Nature gives your brain a break from the everyday over stimulation which can a restorative effect on attention levels.
Lowers blood pressure with a better and more positive outlook on life.
The outdoors boosts your immune system where scientists think that by breathing in phytoncides airborne chemicals produced by plants and trees or the aroma of the forest increases our levels of white blood cells, helping us to fight off infections and diseases. These benefits also have contributed to lower levels of cortisol, slower heart rates, lower blood pressure, greater activity of parasympathetic nerves that promote relaxation, and reduced activity of sympathetic nerves associated with “fight or flight” reactions to stress, improved concentration, and diminished pain.
In addition to the phytoncides, the outdoors provides you with free aromatherapy. According to science, you really should stop and smell the flowers. Research shows that natural scents like roses, wild flowers and different grasses, freshly cut grass, and pine make you feel calmer and more relaxed.
Have your people return back to the office refreshed, more efficient and productive.
Nature walks are linked to:
Enhanced mental health and positive feelings.
Significantly lowering levels of depression and feelings of stress.
Increases relaxation and improves stress management resulting in increased vitality and less anxiety, depression, and anger.
Improved focus.
Nature gives your brain a break from the everyday over stimulation which can a restorative effect on attention levels.
Lowers blood pressure with a better and more positive outlook on life.
The outdoors boosts your immune system where scientists think that by breathing in phytoncides airborne chemicals produced by plants and trees or the aroma of the forest increases our levels of white blood cells, helping us to fight off infections and diseases. These benefits also have contributed to lower levels of cortisol, slower heart rates, lower blood pressure, greater activity of parasympathetic nerves that promote relaxation, and reduced activity of sympathetic nerves associated with “fight or flight” reactions to stress, improved concentration, and diminished pain.
In addition to the phytoncides, the outdoors provides you with free aromatherapy. According to science, you really should stop and smell the flowers. Research shows that natural scents like roses, wild flowers and different grasses, freshly cut grass, and pine make you feel calmer and more relaxed.
You can have your own garden to plant flowers, fruits, and /or vegetables: How many work environments have their own outdoor garden area where the employees can relieve stress through gardening that has proven to be therapeutic?
You can have a BBQ grill or if you are BBQ enthusiasts, why not build your own BBQ pit. How many work environments have their own BBQ area where you can get your groove on?
85% of businesses said wellness both physically and mentally ranked now at the top of all company initiatives as there is a direct impact on employees productivity that impacts the bottom-line.
Is this person capable? Both Harvard and Princeton Researchers have found that people decide on your trustworthiness in a tenth of a second where both people ask themselves, "Can I trust that this person has good intentions toward me?" and "Is this person capable?" We often assume that competence is the most important factor and people have a tendency to play this up when trust is the most important factor. In order for your competence to matter, people must trust you first. The way you move gives a sense of your personality as an extrovert and adventurer as confident or cautious. In a traditional boardroom interview type setting the process is almost choreographed where the appearance of the interviewee is rated, a nice lunch is served and how they eat their lunch is rated and how confident they sit in their chair and the interviewee tries not to let anything slip from their rehearsed performance where the person interviewing for the company may not get a full and accurate reading of the person being interviewed.
More and more deals are being done outside of the traditional office setting so take advantage of it. Nature is linked to improved focus and increased attention and relaxation levels that could result in providing that insight that is needed in business deals so why not be different and insightful by taking them on a nature walk to talk, jogging, bike riding, fishing, bird watching, horseback riding, kayaking or canoeing and finishing it off with a simple and unpretentious bag lunch sitting along a trail? When people are relaxed and comfortable, their true nature comes forth. Of course the key is to have a location to be able to do all of this and this is that location that will give you a better insight into your hiring decision saving later on problems and providing a decisive advantage over the competition when competing for the same client where you will take the time to get to know them and not just their product.
Biophilic Communities: It has been shown that the impact of greenery, nature and biophilia the "love of life or living systems a term used to describe a psychological orientation of being attracted to all that is alive and vital and "the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life." Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions. The benefits of a biophilic design for the work environment is so important for our physical and mental well-being. Downtown Canal Fulton where our building is located has Mother Nature naturally what others are trying to do artificially.
Outdoor Recreation: Provides a physical interaction within Mother Nature. There is nothing more relaxing than a leisurely walk along a path with trees and flowers or an invigorating jog or bike ride or the stimulating rush capturing on film or with binoculars a bald eagle that have nested along the canal for the past 40 years. If you like fishing there have been trophy size game fish caught in the canal.
Ohio’s Gateway to Outdoor Recreation: The city’s branding identity is the first in the city's 206 year history:
Outdoor Recreation: Provides a physical interaction within Mother Nature. There is nothing more relaxing than a leisurely walk along a path with trees and flowers or an invigorating jog or bike ride or the stimulating rush capturing on film or with binoculars a bald eagle that have nested along the canal for the past 40 years. If you like fishing there have been trophy size game fish caught in the canal.
Ohio’s Gateway to Outdoor Recreation: The city’s branding identity is the first in the city's 206 year history:
Looking to escape the mad rush of crowded spaces with the threat of a higher Covid infection rate? Located in the northern end of the designated and registered downtown Historic District and within the designated DORA boundaries where a liquor operation at this building could be included as a DORA participant. Downtown Canal Fulton is a canal waterfront community that has one of only four operating canal boats in the entire State of Ohio. The downtown architecture is reminiscent of the gold standard of the good old fashion days where a hand-shake was a bond and kids cashing in soda bottles and using that money to buy their favorite candies. Canal Fulton has one of, if not the last, remaining authentic canal era downtown’s left in Ohio maintaining a variety of architectural style structures representing different periods of time in American history.
Traffic in the city: The traffic would be considered light to be able to move around with the city. In the downtown on some days your biggest obstacle might be the bicycle riders where bike riders from all over like to launch their ride from the park along the canal.
Crime Rates: Lower than the state and national averages.
The cost of living and doing business in Stark County: Information from Team NEO found within the Stark County Comprehensive 2040 Plan, development to relocate to Northeast Ohio from both national and international markets that has indicated in county reports that the overall cost of doing business in Stark County and the region is nearly 10% lower and the cost of living is 11.4% below the national average making it a great place to live and work.
Fiber Optic Internet Connectivity: MCTV has availability for construction of synchronous fiber optic internet access. MCTV can also provide many types of voice solutions which include hosted voice systems, analog POTS telephone lines, SIP Trunks as well as PRI telephone service. Imagine a location where you are connected to the 21st century and where the stress of competition is balanced with the natural calm of nature by having the historic Ohio & Erie Canal and the Stark County Park system in your backyard.
DORA: Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area, which means during the designated DORA hours you can walk around the designated district with an alcoholic beverage purchased only from participating DORA establishments and must be in an Official DORA Cup. Customers can purchase an alcoholic beverage and leave the DORA establishment with the drink in hand to walk around the district.
The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit: The downtown Historic District qualifies for The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit that provides for a state tax credit up to 25 percent of qualified rehabilitation expenditures or QREs and the Federal program provides 20% where they can be stacked for up to 45%. In general, a dollar of tax credit reduces the amount of tax owed by one dollar with a maximum $5 million in Ohio state tax credits. EX: $100,000 spent on approved QREs x 45% = $45,000 or $1 million spent on approved QREs x 45% = $450,000 in tax credits, etc.
Canal Boat: Downtown Canal Fulton has one (1) of only four (4) operating canal boats in the entire State of Ohio where people can experience a mode of travel just like they did 192 years ago where the canal boat is pulled down the Ohio & Erie Canal at a break neck speed of less than 3 mph pulled by two giant horses and guided by the boat crew.
When you add everything up,
Covid-19 is planning on being around for many years to come bringing along its stress and anxiety that will continue to decimate businesses and bring fear to crowed gatherings both indoors and outdoors. Your employees need to feel safe coming to work and your clients need to feel safe visiting your business. When they feel safe their efficiency and productivity goes up and so does your bottom-line. Now is the time to relocate your business to a piece of Americana.
Building Highlights
21,120 Gross SF - 15,840 Usable SF - Floors 1-3
Plus an additional 5,280 SF on the Lower Level
Canal Waterfront - Free Standing Building.
Zoning B-1 General Retail-Office with the first floor and the Lower Level additionally having an Assembly Group A-1 and B Use Group designation.
Lower level has direct access to the garden area opening up additional possibilities to expand into outdoor dining and entertainment options.
Existing Outdoor Garden Area-Potential 9,000 -10,000 SF Expansion Possibility: This land has direct access to the canal waters that was granted back in 1906 that is the same as the main building.
Abutting up to this garden area is the Conservation Buffer Zone that is part of the canal lands to increase species diversity where this area along the canal will always remain open.
Miscellaneous Contents Available Under Separate Agreement.
Best Use as Owner Operator-Single User Opportunity.
As The Owner Operator/Single User Owner-Live In The Building As Your Residence.
2,000 lb. Freight Elevator Serving All Floors.
Electrical service: 400 amp – single phase service
3-phase service available.
No. Stories: 3 + lower level
Year Built: 1906
Brick walls with solid wood beams for support.
Lot Size: 0.19 AC
APN/Parcel ID: 09502062
$699,000
The City of Canal Fulton is not pretentious or fancy, but at least you get what you see and maybe it is the type of community that you need during a time of uncertainty and turbulence. Covid-19 is making both residents and businesses scrambling for cover and this just might be where you can find that cover.
BEHIND THE BUILDING :
THE EXISTING tables, chairs, staging area, most of the fixtures, props, furniture, walk in freezer, walk in refrigeration, kitchen equipment and cabinets CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE in part or whole in a separate agreement.
CHAPTER 1169 of the City's Codified Ordinance
B-1 General Retail Office District
1169.01 PURPOSE.
The purpose of this District is to provide for a variety of retail, service and administrative establishments which are required to serve a large trading area population.
(Ord. 22-1972. Passed 8-1-72.)
1169.02 USES.
Within a B-1 General Retail-Office District, no building, structure or premises shall be used, arranged to be used or designed to be used except for one or more of the following uses:
(a) Permitted Uses.
(1) Department store.
(2) Off-street public parking lot.
(3) Establishments engaged in the retail trade of:
A. Drugs.
B. Book and stationery store.
C. Apparel store.
D. Florist shop.
E. Antique store.
F. Sporting goods store.
G. Jewelry store.
H. Optical goods store.
I. Furniture, home furnishing, and office equipment and office supplies store.
J. Beverages including liquor.
K. Restaurant.
L. food sales including supermarket.
M. Hardware, paint, floor coverings, wallpaper, materials and objects for interior decorating, auto accessories and repair of household appliances.
N. Preparation and processing of food and drink to be retailed on premises including bakery, delicatessen, meat market, confectionery, restaurant, ice cream parlor, soda fountain.
O. Eating and drinking establishments but excluding drive-in restaurants.
(4) Establishments engaged primarily in the fields of finance, insurance and real estate:
A. Bank.
B. Credit agency other than a bank.
C. Investment firm.
D. Insurance carrier.
E. Real estate and insurance company.
F. Investment company.
(5) Establishments engaged in providing a variety of services to individuals and business establishments, such as:
A Personal services such as barber and beauty shops, shoe repair shops, laundries and dry cleaning.
B. Business services such as advertising agency, news services, maid service and employment agencies.
C. Medical and other health services.
E. Legal services.
F. Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services.
G. Nonprofit, professional, charitable and labor organizations.
H Dance studio and school.
I. Bowling alley.
J. Motion picture and theatrical playhouse.
K. Child and adult day care center.
L. Video rental and sales.
Note: D- Was Omitted from the Codified Ordinance.
6) Accessory buildings incidental to the principal uses which do not include any activity conducted as a business.
(7) Accessory uses clearly incidental to the uses permitted on the same premises.
(8) Travel agency, passenger-transportation agency and terminal.
(9 Signs-as regulated by Chapter 1181.
(Ord. 22-1972. Passed 8-1-72; Ord. 25-92. Passed 5-19-92.)
(b) Conditionally Permitted Uses. The Planning Commission may issue conditional zoning certificates for uses listed herein subject to the general requirements of Chapter 1145 and to the specific requirements of Section 1145.04, referred to below:
(1) Drive-in banking facilities subject to Subsection 102.
(2) Clubs, lodges, fraternal, charitable or social agencies subject to Subsection 102, 103, 105, 110.
(3) Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work subject to Subsection 114.
(Ord. 22-1972. Passed 8-1-72.)
(4) Veterinarian hospital or clinic.
(Ord. 8-1980. Passed 4-1-80.)
(5) Rented apartments above businesses.
(Ord. 25-05. Passed 11-15-05.)
(6) Amusement arcades with adequate off-street parking.
(Ord. 5-87. Passed 2-23-87.)
(7) Bed and Breakfast Inns subject to Subsections 103 and 117.
(Ord. 23-87. Passed 5-19-87.)
(8) First floor apartments subject to subsection 132.
(Ord. 7-91. Passed 4-2-91.)
(9) Outdoor dining on public property subject to subsection 133.
(Ord. 45-94. Passed 8-16-94.)
(10) Hotel.
(Ord. 12-16. Passed 7-19-16.)
B-1 General Retail Office District
1169.01 PURPOSE.
The purpose of this District is to provide for a variety of retail, service and administrative establishments which are required to serve a large trading area population.
(Ord. 22-1972. Passed 8-1-72.)
1169.02 USES.
Within a B-1 General Retail-Office District, no building, structure or premises shall be used, arranged to be used or designed to be used except for one or more of the following uses:
(a) Permitted Uses.
(1) Department store.
(2) Off-street public parking lot.
(3) Establishments engaged in the retail trade of:
A. Drugs.
B. Book and stationery store.
C. Apparel store.
D. Florist shop.
E. Antique store.
F. Sporting goods store.
G. Jewelry store.
H. Optical goods store.
I. Furniture, home furnishing, and office equipment and office supplies store.
J. Beverages including liquor.
K. Restaurant.
L. food sales including supermarket.
M. Hardware, paint, floor coverings, wallpaper, materials and objects for interior decorating, auto accessories and repair of household appliances.
N. Preparation and processing of food and drink to be retailed on premises including bakery, delicatessen, meat market, confectionery, restaurant, ice cream parlor, soda fountain.
O. Eating and drinking establishments but excluding drive-in restaurants.
(4) Establishments engaged primarily in the fields of finance, insurance and real estate:
A. Bank.
B. Credit agency other than a bank.
C. Investment firm.
D. Insurance carrier.
E. Real estate and insurance company.
F. Investment company.
(5) Establishments engaged in providing a variety of services to individuals and business establishments, such as:
A Personal services such as barber and beauty shops, shoe repair shops, laundries and dry cleaning.
B. Business services such as advertising agency, news services, maid service and employment agencies.
C. Medical and other health services.
E. Legal services.
F. Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services.
G. Nonprofit, professional, charitable and labor organizations.
H Dance studio and school.
I. Bowling alley.
J. Motion picture and theatrical playhouse.
K. Child and adult day care center.
L. Video rental and sales.
Note: D- Was Omitted from the Codified Ordinance.
6) Accessory buildings incidental to the principal uses which do not include any activity conducted as a business.
(7) Accessory uses clearly incidental to the uses permitted on the same premises.
(8) Travel agency, passenger-transportation agency and terminal.
(9 Signs-as regulated by Chapter 1181.
(Ord. 22-1972. Passed 8-1-72; Ord. 25-92. Passed 5-19-92.)
(b) Conditionally Permitted Uses. The Planning Commission may issue conditional zoning certificates for uses listed herein subject to the general requirements of Chapter 1145 and to the specific requirements of Section 1145.04, referred to below:
(1) Drive-in banking facilities subject to Subsection 102.
(2) Clubs, lodges, fraternal, charitable or social agencies subject to Subsection 102, 103, 105, 110.
(3) Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work subject to Subsection 114.
(Ord. 22-1972. Passed 8-1-72.)
(4) Veterinarian hospital or clinic.
(Ord. 8-1980. Passed 4-1-80.)
(5) Rented apartments above businesses.
(Ord. 25-05. Passed 11-15-05.)
(6) Amusement arcades with adequate off-street parking.
(Ord. 5-87. Passed 2-23-87.)
(7) Bed and Breakfast Inns subject to Subsections 103 and 117.
(Ord. 23-87. Passed 5-19-87.)
(8) First floor apartments subject to subsection 132.
(Ord. 7-91. Passed 4-2-91.)
(9) Outdoor dining on public property subject to subsection 133.
(Ord. 45-94. Passed 8-16-94.)
(10) Hotel.
(Ord. 12-16. Passed 7-19-16.)
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The backyard is the Ohio & Erie Canal and the County Park System known as Stark Parks
This rose and flower garden area can support an approximately 9,000-10,000 sq. ft. expansion area. This site may represent the only commercial development site with "Direct Access" to the canal available along the entire 110 mile long Ohio & Erie Canal Corridor. Connecting to this site and continuing along the canal is a County Park Conservation Zone that will always remain open to encourage species diversity. The garden area is directly connected to the lower level offering the opportunity to create a beer garden with dining and entertainment options playing off the canal.
In the photo it is estimated the painted on signage to be circa around 1915 showing the "Chew Honest Scrap" sign and although over 100 years old you can still see the sign although faded. The Historical Preservation Society has approved of the repainting and restoring of the sign and the chewing tobacco box.
Circa about 1915
You could even have an 18 piece orchestra playing for your event
Opportunities of closing off the street in front of the building to expand events. This event was for those with special needs where over 250 people watched.
From students and young people to major corporations, our popular Team Building and Escape Room programs featuring the Fear of the Unknown theme is making an impact.
Weddings, Entertainment, Tourism, Events and More
The neighborhood on a warm summer night of the canal and a portion of the downtown. The subject property is about a one minute walk away. Photo by DoorPost Photography.
Check out this short clip of the downtown community
If you have any questions or you are interested in seeing the building, please email Ken at kmqmroberts@gmail.com
If you would like to see more of the Canal Fulton community click here Ohio's Gateway to Outdoor Recreation Business & Tourism
Warehouse on the Canal
239 N. Canal St. (Downtown)
Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614
