What is the Richfield Town Trust?
At a Richfield Village Planning and Zoning meeting in August, a resident asked a question that is frequently heard: What is the Richfield Town Trust? This question came as the organization was applying for a zoning change to property they had acquired over several years.
The Town Trust is a nonprofit organization that has been active in Richfield for about 30 years.
In 1994, a planner for the Village of Richfield advised elected and appointed officials that the historic buildings in the center of town were mostly in disrepair. The planner, Bob Perry, said if nothing was done to help the owners save the properties, they would eventually disappear and the center of the village would take on a more modern character or continue to deteriorate.
In addition, he advised that Richfield had few suitable housing options for older residents who wanted to downsize. He recommended that houses on smaller parcels could be developed in the central historic district.
The properties were all privately owned, so government money couldn’t be spent to salvage the structures.
At the same time, a 7.5-acre parcel immediately east of Eastwood Preserve was zoned to allow construction of four-story apartment buildings. Community members feared that someone would develop the property to its fullest financial potential and destroy the character of the village.
Sweet Corn Challenge
A fundraiser was needed to generate private funds to provide help to the property owners and the Sweet Corn Challenge bike ride was started for that purpose. The event grew and continued for 25 years. During its peak years, more than 2,300 cyclists from across the country – and even a few from other countries – participated. The event generated healthy income for the Chamber.
With full support from the Chamber of Commerce, 80% of the profits were provided to a new nonprofit organization that was formed to preserve the character of the historic district and provide subsidies for owners of properties within the district.
Profits from the event were invested until 2006 when the Town Trust began awarding grants using the earnings from the investments. Grants were provided for projects that would help preserve historic buildings. The first $20,000 grant went to Lisa Spencer, who was converting an abandoned 1850s home into a hair salon. The Lee Marie Hair Salon still flourishes in the beautifully restored building.
The Town Trust awarded three grants to different owners of the iconic Taverne of Richfield over the next 14 years, including a $10,000 grant to Olesia Pochynok, who had spent two years remodeling the building right up to the time COVID-19 restrictions required restaurants to close.
Over the 20 years since the Town Trust incorporated, the nonprofit has awarded a total of $323,000 in grants to 45 properties.
In addition, when the 7.5-acre parcel that was zoned for multi-story buildings went on the market, the Town Trust purchased it to gain control over its future development.
The group later purchased adjacent properties that were being sold by the owner of the former Swan Plumbing company.
The goal of the members of the Richfield Town Trust has remained consistent throughout its 30-year history: Preserve Richfield’s small-town character while encouraging a walkable community with access to restaurants, the library, Village Hall, the senior center, walking trails and parks.
With the acreage the Town Trust has acquired, and with careful planning by the Village of Richfield, new structures may be added downtown. Some may accommodate residents who want or need to downsize from their large houses and yards.
Years of planning may still lie ahead, but the dream continues.
