When someone hears about the village of Milan, any number of things may come to mind.
Perhaps a light bulb, or some place you visited on a field trip in elementary school.
For some, it may be the best pizza anywhere, or for others, cantaloupe ice cream.
Perhaps, potato digging comes to mind.
Milan is a lot of things to a lot of people, but this quaint little village nestled between Norwalk and Sandusky is home for 1,400 folks, which interestingly has remained at that number for more than half a century.
Milan was named by the Arbor Day Foundation a Tree City USA for the 21st consecutive year.
But, for Mayor Pam Crosby and Village Administrator Brian Rospert, Milan is home to some of the finest sidewalks in Ohio.
Yes, sidewalks are all the rage and the village has invested heavily in new paved paths to get folks from here to there safely.
Both Crosby and Rospert encourage visitors and residents to take time to enjoy the scenic Town Square with its delightful charm of a bygone era, the restored architecture houses, several antique shops, friendly restaurants and shops, or just relax in the park and enjoy the soothing tranquility of a small town.
And quite simply, shoppers can’t walk around if there aren’t good sidewalks, and Rospert says having old, crumbling sidewalks is like having flat tires on a fancy car.
“It may sound like a little thing for us to have been focused on recently, but we did, and we felt it was important for the village,” Rospert said. “We had some elevation issues and when it would rain, it would continually wash out. We made them ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, widened them and it just looks fantastic and it’s safer.”
Replacing sidewalks
In 2023, Milan received a $30,000 Community Development Block Grant through Erie County to replace 330 feet of sidewalk and 300 feet of curb to make the west side of the square.
Village Council then voted and approved to replace the remaining sidewalks in the village square to make them ADA compliant and utilized almost $50,000 out of our Capital Improvement Budget.
This project was completed in early July.
But, that wasn’t the end of new sidewalks in the village.
Rospert explained that just recently, the village was successful at obtaining a new nearly $30,000 grant through the Erie County commissioners to install ADA compliant sidewalks around the athletic field across from Edison Elementary School.
Village Council approved matching this amount utilizing their Capital Improvement Fund.
The new sidewalk will extend down Oak Street to where it intersects with Huron Street down to Judson Street.
There is no exact date as of yet for an estimated completion.
“Once the sidewalk is installed, it will enhance the safety of our pedestrians, and the parents who are dropping off and picking up their children from the elementary school,” Rospert explained. “Presently, there are no sidewalks in this area and the parents and children are forced to walk in the roadway.
“It’s just not safe, so this will be a huge safety improvement.”
Jenkins Warehouse Commission
Sidewalks, however, are not the only things going on in Milan, as the village known for its history, has purchased what is known as the Jenkins Warehouse.
It is the last warehouse standing of what was the Milan Canal.
The village of Milan obtained ownership of the 1840s warehouse from the Erie MetroParks in early 2023.
Prior to this date, the village signed a lease to save the structure.
In late 2021, Village Council passed an ordinance to form a Jenkins Warehouse Commission, which has been successful in obtaining several grants from local foundations.
To date, the Jenkins Warehouse Commission has preserved the building from further deterioration and is in the process of hiring an architect to move on to the next step.
“We have been able to stabilize the foundation, with more foundation work to complete,” Crosby said. “We’ve cleaned out the structure, and made the building weather tight, to prevent any future deterioration.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, but we have a vision and we want to share that vision. It’s a huge piece of history and I’m totally impressed with the opportunities this could present.
“I could see it being turned into something awesome for the village, and we absolutely can restore this magnificent structure. I could see this being used for educational purposes and open to the public.
“We could hold banquets and receptions, it could be an art studio. The possibilities are endless and it’s an important piece of our history that deserves to be not only preserved, but restored and enjoyed for years to come.”
And, while the village is looking to restore a warehouse, it also may have undertaken the restoration of the water tower.
Milan secured a loan through the Ohio EPA to hire a design firm for the project, and presently working to apply for an Ohio Public Works Commission Grant for the construction phase of the project, estimated to cost around $400,000.
The plan is to repaint the structure inside and out, fill piping insulation replacement, cathodic protection system, replace the check valve and add safety railing to the top of the structure.
But, perhaps more exciting that old warehouses, sidewalks and water towers are the ongoing emphasis of having regular events on the village square.
Enviably for a small town, while the storefronts are filled with thriving small businesses, more have the opportunity regularly throughout the year with small business pop-up events, where local businesses and artisans can sell their wares.
Crosby said typically, they’re seeing 20 plus vendors at these pop-ups.
“Our Village Square has been the sight of a lot of activity and events this year to include two Small Town Summer Nights that took place earlier this year,” Rospert said. “This event is put on by the village of Milan’s Activity Committee and is enjoyed by many where the guests can play yard games, there are food trucks and listen to a local band.”
The Milan Chamber of Commerce hosts numerous events in the square such as the Antique Festival that took place in July, Cruisin’ on the Square each Tuesday night from May through September, and this year, the Chamber started Ole Village Markets in the square where local vendors and farmers have pop-up markets on select dates in August and September.
The next event is scheduled for Sept. 12.
“We’re just so proud of our community; Milan is one of if not the most beautiful villages anywhere,” Rospert said. “We have such wonderful people that live here, that work here.
“Families that have been here for generations and are just so involved. We love our village and anything we can do to make it that much better, we will.”
He added that The Erie County Farm Bureau will have a Tractor Show on Aug. 25, and of course, the famous Milan Melon Festival that will take place Aug. 30 through Sept. 2 over the Labor Day weekend.