112-118 w mAIN sT -
THE FACTS 08/19/2025
In the past 48 hours, Troy Mayor Robin Oda, yet again, put her own political self-interests ahead of the interests of the community she was elected to lead. Her petty comments about a potential sale of the old Miami County courthouse/Independent Order of Odd Fellows building on West Main Street did our downtown a great disservice at a time when it is trying to recover from many missteps by her administration.
Oda's comments to local news media recently are truly "unbelievable," to borrow a word she has used carelessly, and are unbecoming of a mayor. Oda states that "this potential sale just kind of feels like a slap in the face to the people who donated money to save the building." How would she know how it feels?! She contributed absolutely nothing toward the building's recent stabilization efforts.
What she and the City of Troy administration DID do in December 2023 was sign on to a court-mediated settlement agreement that brought an end to years of legal wrangling over the building's future. Whether she liked that outcome or not, it was the agreed-upon solution by all parties at the table. As part of the settlement agreement, the Troy Historic Preservation Alliance agreed to take ownership of the building and make specified repairs to stabilize it.
The THPA is a volunteer-led nonprofit with no paid staff. Its 11 board members all contributed toward this effort, alongside more than 300 other individuals, businesses, and organizations that stepped up. When our nonprofit took on this big project, with just four months to complete the stabilization work, we reached out to the community for support. We promised donors four things in exchange for that support: 1) Supporting our nonprofit's work was the fastest way to ensure the reopening of West Main Street under the terms of the settlement agreement; 2) The contributions would go toward stabilizing the building, thus saving it and the city's historic streetscape; 3) An easement would be placed on the building to deter the possibility of future demolition; and 4) The history of the building and the recent efforts to save it would be shared as part of a display at the property, which would include donor recognition. All of those promises have been/are being kept; none have been broken, and the potential transfer of the building to a new owner will have no impact on those promises. The specified repairs were made - new roof, truss repairs, wall repairs - within the required timeframe, and West Main Street reopened ahead of the April 30, 2024 deadline. The THPA then worked with Pella to install top-of-the line, historically appropriate windows in the building. In essence, this investment of more than $1 million - all private, none of it public (unlike what we have seen with other downtown revitalization projects) - helped put the building on an even playing field.
Since January 2025, when Glass City Developers LLC assumed ownership of the building, additional significant investment has been made. This includes exterior brick work, exterior painting, selective interior demolition, and the development of architectural plans for the building. So we're genuinely puzzled when Oda says, "It's been a long four-plus years that this has dragged out, and we're nowhere, and we have a cut-up building." Has Oda even seen the building in the past 20 months? It has improved by leaps and bounds - far more so than it did under previous ownership in the six or so years before THPA and then Glass City Developers had ownership.
Unfortunately, Oda is encouraging an environment in which a brew of misinformation and conspiracy theories can thrive around this building, not to mention wild ideas such as class-action lawsuits. Her statements are frankly irresponsible and in no way help our downtown move forward. After listening to her on the news, would an outside business or investment firm want to invest in downtown Troy? In contrast, Oda seems bent on pulling our city back into a rehash of old arguments - arguments put to rest when the city signed onto the settlement agreement in December 2023. If she was so sure that settling the lawsuit was not the best course of action for the city, why didn't she press on and have her public service and safety director sit for a deposition?
THPA would also like to clarify that the 340 entities that contributed toward the stabilization work are donors, not investors. These are two very different things. What we have generally found with our supporters is that they believe in our downtown's culture of stewardship and want to support projects that promote that culture, without an expectation of direct repayment. It's really as simple as that.
In January 2025, the THPA explained the transition of the building to ownership by Glass City Developers LLC, whose owner had provided THPA with the means to purchase the building and thus had an option to assume ownership of the building from THPA once stabilization repairs were complete. THPA explained that "Glass City is exploring multiple options to ensure the revitalization of this historic landmark and its return to full occupancy ... These options include Glass City redeveloping the building itself as a mixed-use development, or a potential sale of the building." If Glass City has decided that selling the building is the best way to achieve that outcome, we respect that decision.
Channel 7 reported Oda saying of the building, "Hate to say it, I don't care if it's torn down."
Downtown Troy needs a mayor that will serve as an ambassador. It clearly does not have one in Robin Oda.
FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ FAQ
1. Why did THPA purchase 112–118 W Main St.?
In December 2023, a court-mediated settlement required that the building either be stabilized or demolished within four months. Though the asking price of $485,000 exceeded its economic market value, THPA believed the building’s historical significance made it worth saving. An option holder fronted the purchase funds, allowing THPA to step in and prevent demolition.
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2. How much money was raised, and where did it go?
Between December 2023 and April 2024, THPA raised more than $1 million dollars including direct and in-kind contributions. These funds were used exclusively for stabilization work: replacing trusses, repairing masonry and parapets, and installing a new metal roof. All work was completed ahead of schedule, meeting the County’s requirements and reopening a state route and vital artery to downtown Troy. The installation of historically appropriate windows were also covered under this support. No taxpayer money was used for the project.
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3. Did THPA profit from donations or the sale of the building?
No. THPA made zero profit from either donations or the building’s sale. Every dollar donated went directly toward stabilization. After the work was completed, the property was transferred to Glass City Developers, LLC (the option holder) at the same purchase price of $485,000. THPA’s financial position today is the same as it was before the project began.
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4. Who is Glass City Developers, LLC, and why were they involved?
Glass City, was the unnamed option holder in 2023 who covered the purchase price, taking on the risk of ownership. Without their backing, THPA could not have acquired the property. After stabilization, Glass City, continued investing hundreds of thousands of dollars on improvements, such as new doors, brick repairs, power washing, exterior paint, and preparing the interior for redevelopment.
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5. Why is the building being sold now?
In August 2025, Glass City, elected to sell the building rather than finish out tenant spaces. The building is now developer-ready, structurally sound, and preserved for future use.
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6. Who benefited from the donations?
The community benefited. Donations ensured that this historic cornerstone was saved from demolition, an adjudication order lifted, West Main Street reopened, and Troy retained an irreplaceable piece of its architectural heritage. THPA has NOT profited from donor contributions.
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7. What is the status of the Donor Wall?
A permanent Donor Wall is in progress to recognize all who contributed to the stabilization campaign. THPA remains committed to honoring our donors who supported stabilization of the building.
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8. Will there be an easement on the property?
Yes. Preservation easements are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that this historically significant property remains protected regardless of ownership.
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9. How is THPA structured as a nonprofit?
THPA is a registered nonprofit with its own EIN (Employer Identification Number). All donations are managed in compliance with nonprofit regulations, used for mission-driven purposes, and documented for transparency.
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10. How does this project fit THPA’s mission?
Our role was to prevent demolition, stabilize the structure, and safeguard Troy’s history. Once stabilized, the building was positioned for future use. This model—stepping in at the critical moment—allows THPA to protect heritage without becoming a long-term developer or landlord.
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👉 Transparency Note:
It’s important to highlight that most of the current questions are being raised by individuals who did not contribute to the campaign. THPA values all voices in the community and wishes to reassure past and future donors that their contributions were used exactly as intended.
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