Two unusual historical replica homes are expected to be available for short-term rentals in the future.

If you've ever wanted to step back in time and spend the night in replicas of the homes of where great ideas were formed you will soon be able to do that. 

Columbiana City Council approved a 10 year 50% real estate tax abatement for the Makall's to build replicas of the boyhood homes of Thomas Edison, who contributed to the invention of the incandescent light bulb, and Henry Ford, who introduced the first assembly line in the production of cars.

"It will be a short-term rental much like Airbnb, but I don't know exactly what platform they are going to use, but we can't wait to see that project. It's a
$600,000 project," said City Manager Lance Willard.

Harvey Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company along with, Edison and Ford were great friends and they visited him often in Columbiana.

"They called themselves the vagabonds. They used to gather and go camping across the U.S., the three of them, and they would gather and sit around the campfire and talk business and brainstorm," added Willard.

Construction is expected to begin soon, perhaps in the next week or two, with the potential tourist attractions complete in around 9 months

Columbiana City Council also approved of a 100% 15-year property tax abatement for a retail plaza, movie theater, restaurant with rooftop dining, and more rentals.

 It's expected to almost be a mirror image of the current plaza. The 10-million dollar project is expected to get underway in 2022 and create almost 80 new jobs.  Columbiana Local Schools agreed to the property tax abatement of the multi-million dollar project.

All three projects are being built with private funds, but they will benefit the community and future generations.