About The Zanesville Downtown Association

Mission Statement

The mission of the Zanesville Downtown Association is to stimulate economic revitalization in Downtown by encouraging business attraction, retention and expansion through marketing, promotion, and an improved physical environment.


The ZDA has been busy working side by side with the City of Zanesville on numerous projects.

These project included: Downtown Revitalization District formation, Downtown Redevelopment District formation and providing research information to the Ohio Historical Preservation Office These projects will attract businesses, capture “taxes” and preserve historic facades in our downtown.

ZDA volunteers participated in the Interstate ramp clean-up project to enhance the entrances into and out of our downtown area. Additionally, the ZDA organized the Miracle on Main Street and Holiday Tour.

Funds raised by past membership campaigns were used to fund wayfinding/historical signage, wrought-iron trash receptacles, holiday planters on the Y-Bridge light posts and future projects will include, signage projects, website development and marketing materials. In honor of our pioneers, industrialists and community volunteers we are renaming our sponsor levels to reflect their impact on our downtown.

Wally Moore $50- Wally was a longtime downtown resident who upon his retirement took it upon himself to be a “one-man clean-up crew”. Mr. Moore was honored with numerous local awards.

John Hoge $100- Mr. Hoge was the marketing genius behind “Star Soap”. A leader in “promotional” advertising he brought Star Soap national success. His fortunes allowed him to be a major investor in companies, stocks and land. The book “Friday Nights Lights” mentions him in the preface.

Cass Gilbert $250- Born and raised on the corner of 4th & Market Streets, Mr. Gilbert went on to be a premiere American architect. He designed numerous state Capital buildings, skyscrapers in New York City and government buildings in Washington, D.C.

John McIntire $1000- As payment for his work on the National Trail, John McIntire was gifted the property that we know of as downtown Zanesville. He was an Inn Keeper and entrepreneur. His acquired substantial wealth and his fortune still serves our community in the form of scholarships and grants.


Thank you for supporting our revitalization efforts of Downtown Zanesville.


The formation of the Zanesville Downtown Association

Efforts had been made by several groups to end the decline of downtown Zanesville. In 1994 the concerned business leaders approached the Muskingum Industrial Growth Committee to fund a master Plan Study. As a result of the 1995 Hyett- Palma Master Plan, the ZDA became a division of the Chamber of Commerce.

The Hyett-Palma Master Plan provided an analytical diagnosis of current condition of the downtown area, its attributes and deficiencies. Four categories were created for action- Business retention, business recruitment, physical improvement and public relations. In 2005 another Master Plan was developed by the KKG firm with imagery and information to help guide area leaders with an added emphasis on riverfront development.

The ZDA has co-mingled these studies and finds ongoing improvement within the downtown area with ongoing investments in properties, the continued growth of the Artist Colony and numerous beautification efforts. Recent changes to the City’s codified ordinances have included a Comprehensive Plan with a section specifically dealing with the downtown area, the Downtown Redevelopment District that “captures” the increases in tax values for usage in specific areas of the downtown and finally the creation of the Downtown Revitalization District which encourages restaurant development with increased liquor permits.