Morning Journal/Stephanie Ujhelyi Two buildings in downtown East Liverpool now are owned by the city’s Community Improvement Corporation, after being accepted from the county land bank.

EAST LIVERPOOL — Since last fall, East Liverpool’s Community Improvement Corporation has discussed saving two downtown buildings that are a crucial part of the city’s history. Officials would be pleased to get someone in there who would restore them to their prior glory.

During a brief meeting, CIC members voted unanimously to accept the Diamond Hotel and Thompson Block buildings, which are located next door in the 500 block of Market Street.

Board president Patrick Scafide expressed excitement about the acquisition.

Both buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places’ as part of the East Liverpool Downtown Historic District.

The Diamond Hotel, 522 Market St., is a four-story masonry building of brick construction with a deeply recessed storefront framed by a semi-elliptical arched opening. A stone nearing the name “Lowe” is centered on the facade above the fourth story.

The J.C. Thompson Block building is one of the district’s most important examples of commercial design from the last quarter of the 19th century. The application reads, “Queen Anne in style, it incorporates a corner tower with decorative wood trim and colored glass transom sash in many of the windows. A centered gable is on the facade.”

In addition to accepting the properties, the CIC also voted to offset costs with surveying and boarding up the buildings as well as putting it

After learning that the buildings were up for county auditor sale, the CIC had asked county land bank representatives pull them from the sale — especially as developers had already expressed interest in them.

Scafide said that he has already missed with businesses interested in acquiring, restoring and developing the businesses. He said if someone shows a legitimate interest in the buildings, the business can be given the property at no cost.

In other action, Lisa Blasdel, executive director of the Southern Columbiana County Regional Chamber of Commerce, was accepted a new member to the CIC board.