GREEN, Ohio — If you love history and looking for a bit of a fixer-upper, the city of Green could have the perfect place to call home.
The city is accepting proposals for someone to lease and move into the Hartong Farmstead while embracing the idea of returning the land to its original use, a small-scale agricultural farm.
The home, built in 1883, is nestled along a scenic and serene 20-acre section of Southgate Park and belonged to one of Green's first families. It's surrounded by a summer kitchen, barn, chicken coop and well house.
"One of the things that happens when you come out here, people say, 'Oh, I want to live here,'" said Sarah Haring, the community development administrator.
The city bought Hartong in 2005 and has spent about $500,000 over the last decade maintaining the home, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places.
"Obviously, preserving the history is important. It's a beautiful homestead that gives us a glimpse into the late 1800's," said Mayor Gerard Neugebauer.
A large meadow near the home is one area Green would like to see transformed into farm fields. Exactly what and how much would be grown on the property isn't clear, but not knowing is part of the beauty of the proposal process.
"The burden is on the applicant to give us a proposal that we say, 'Wow, this is it. This is what fits here,'" Haring said.
The cost to lease the land and property will be $1,250 per month. Applications will be taken until Nov 1. A committee will review the option and hopes to make a decision by early 2020.
The Hartong initiative was developed in partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Countryside Initiative, led by CEO Tracy Emrick. Countryside was established in 1999 and today has 10 farms actively producing everything from wine to bacon.
Anyone interested in applying for the lease can do so, here.
