Canton Acquires Downtown AEP Building for $1

City officials plan to transform the 5-story property into a new public safety hub and office space

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:39am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a polished metal model of a multi-story office building surrounded by abstract corporate symbols, conveying the civic and strategic nature of Canton's building renovation project.A symbolic representation of Canton's strategic acquisition and repurposing of a downtown office building to serve the community's public safety and administrative needs.Canton Today

The city of Canton, Ohio has acquired the downtown American Electric Power (AEP) building for the bargain price of $1. City Council voted to accept the property, which includes the building and associated parking lots. AEP will lease back one floor of the building, while the city plans to use the rest of the space for a new public safety center and to house various city departments that have outgrown their current offices.

Why it matters

This deal allows Canton to repurpose a large, centrally-located building that was at risk of becoming vacant, preventing blight in the downtown area. It also provides an opportunity to consolidate public safety operations and evidence storage in a more efficient manner, while giving the city more office space to accommodate growing departments.

The details

After initially asking $3-4 million for the property, AEP decided to sell the building to the city for just $1. The building and land have been appraised at $6.25 million. Canton's top priority for the site is to create a first-floor safety center that would house police administrative offices, employee training, the investigative division, and the county crime lab all under one roof. The building will also be used to accommodate various city departments that have outgrown their current spaces. AEP will be responsible for paying for any renovations to the one floor they will continue to occupy.

  • Negotiations for the property began about 10 months ago.
  • City Council voted on April 6, 2026 to accept the property deal.
  • A study to determine operating costs and next steps is expected to be completed in 6-9 months.
  • Renovations will begin after the study is finished.
  • The full project is estimated to take 7-8 years to complete.

The players

Donn Angus

Canton's Planning Director, who said the city 'just struck gold' with this acquisition.

William V. Sherer II

The Mayor of Canton, who negotiated the $1 deal with AEP after the company initially asked for $3-4 million.

John Gabbard

Canton's Police Chief, who envisions the new public safety center as a hub for multi-agency task forces with on-site evidence storage.

American Electric Power (AEP)

The electric utility company that owned the downtown Canton building and agreed to sell it to the city for $1 while leasing back one floor.

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What they’re saying

“From a planning standpoint, we just struck gold.”

— Donn Angus, Canton Planning Director

“We have a responsibility to the communities where we live and work that extends beyond delivering reliable electricity. In this case, that commitment looks like a close partnership with the city to sell them our Canton General Office and lease back one floor of the building based on our current facility needs.”

— AEP Spokesperson

“The first time I walked over there, I was like a kid in a candy store. The possibilities are endless.”

— William V. Sherer II, Mayor of Canton

“There's nothing like face-to-face collaboration.”

— John Gabbard, Canton Police Chief

What’s next

The city will complete a study in the next 6-9 months to determine operating costs and next steps for the AEP building. Renovations will then begin, with the full project estimated to take 7-8 years to complete.

The takeaway

This deal allows Canton to transform a large, centrally-located building into a new public safety hub and office space, preventing downtown blight while also consolidating city services and operations. It demonstrates the city's proactive approach to repurposing underutilized properties for the benefit of the community.