CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Chillicothe’s downtown revitalization takes a leap forward with plans to transform a historic canal building into a mixed-use space, thanks to a $130,000 donation from Fluor-BWXT (FBP). The 1833 building on East Main and Mulberry Streets will become Preservation Hall, a $8M project featuring an upscale restaurant, meeting spaces, co-working areas, and audio/visual production and training studios.
FBP President and CEO Greg Wilkett expressed excitement about contributing to Chillicothe’s economic growth. The canal building, a relic from the Ohio Erie Canal era, adds historical significance to the project.
Tammy Eallonardo, director of Greater Chillicothe & Ross County Development, sees the Preservation Hall initiative as transformative, comparing it to the impactful restoration of the Carlisle Building a decade ago. The project aligns with Chillicothe’s recent UNESCO World Heritage site designation.
The $130,000 donation is a collaboration with the Joint Economic Development Initiative of Southern Ohio (JEDISO), which has invested over $933M in Pike, Scioto, Ross, and Jackson counties in the last decade, creating 2,500 jobs and retaining 8,300 more for the region.
