The City of Tiffin is seeking a private developer for approximately 0.67 acres of city-owned riverfront property downtown, offering a potential 15-year property tax exemption on new construction as an incentive for investment.
The land sits on the east bank of the Sandusky River near Madison and Front streets, adjacent to City Lot 6. The city is considering residential, commercial, hospitality, recreational and mixed-use developments, with proposals accepted on a rolling basis.
Under the city’s October 21 request for proposals, no specific building design, number of housing units, tenant mix or asking price has been established. Interested developers must submit their own concepts, financial plans and proposed business terms.
The city prefers to sell the property but will consider leases, development agreements and other legally permissible arrangements. Tiffin City Council would have to approve any final transaction.
Tax exemption offered for new construction
The parcel falls within Tiffin Community Reinvestment Area No. 1, where qualifying new construction is eligible for a 100% real property tax exemption on the assessed value of the new improvements for 15 years.
The exemption would apply to eligible new construction rather than the underlying land. Developers must satisfy program requirements and obtain the necessary approvals. Selection through the development solicitation would not automatically qualify a project for the incentive.
The tax benefit is among the financial considerations developers can incorporate into their proposals. The city has not specified how much private investment it expects to attract or the value of tax revenue that a future project could receive through the exemption.
Public parking and riverfront conditions
One firm requirement is that the existing public parking in City Lot 6 be preserved. Developers must also explain how their projects would accommodate parking, deliveries, accessibility and construction activity without unnecessarily disrupting downtown operations.
The waterfront location introduces additional development considerations. The city’s solicitation requires applicants to evaluate floodplain restrictions, the condition and stability of the riverwall, drainage, utilities and other engineering requirements. Final property boundaries must be confirmed through surveying and title review.
An illustrative concept included with the request shows a possible mixed-use development with ground-floor commercial spaces, upper-floor residences, balconies and patios. The city is accepting alternative designs and has not approved that concept for construction.
Mayor Lee Wilkinson said in the city’s October 28 announcement that officials want new development to attract activity and investment while protecting the public parking used by downtown businesses and visitors.
No fixed deadline for proposals
The solicitation was authorized through Ordinance 2026-51, adopted by City Council on September 8. Proposals will be reviewed as they arrive, and the city may begin negotiations before closing the solicitation. No submission deadline has been set.
Applicants must document their development experience, proposed use of the property, financing capacity, investment plans, implementation schedule and requested terms. The city’s solicitation also requires disclosure of relevant conflicts of interest and explains that submitted proposals are subject to Ohio’s public records law.
Proposals must be submitted as a searchable PDF, including the required signed certification, to City Administrator Nick Dutro at ndutro@tiffinohio.gov, with the subject line “Downtown Riverfront Development Proposal.”
Additional property information, the full solicitation and supporting materials are available at OneSeneca’s riverfront development page. Interested parties are instructed to confirm the solicitation’s current status and obtain any written updates before submitting proposals.
The project was also discussed during City Council’s November 2 meeting, when officials outlined other major infrastructure and development initiatives. TiffinOhio.net reported on those plans earlier this month.
