Lorain, Elyria positioned for future growth

Lorain County’s two largest populated cities — Lorain and Elyria — have bright futures and the mayors of those municipalities were in order when touting their successes.

Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda and Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer delivered their State of the City addresses last week during events sponsored by the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce with the Elyria and Lorain Rotary clubs.

During her Feb. 21 address to the community at Wesleyan Village, 807 West Ave., Brinda proudly spoke about the improvements and growth of the city saying it’s been a very exciting year in Elyria.

The positives the mayor outlined include the relocation of a manufacturing plant, the growing number of businesses and houses, $18 million in current investments downtown and improvements to the city’s infrastructure and neighborhoods.

And Issue 6, a.5 percent temporary income tax voters passed in 2016, will raise $6.2 million for five years to repair residential streets, add police officers and equipment, park improvements, capital needs and economic development initiatives.

In 2016, the city saw about $26 million in new investments for new business starts and public improvements including Courtyard by Marriott hotel, Lorain County Cell Tower for 911, Lorain County Jail two-story addition and the Lorain County Courthouse.

There were 40 new homes built in 2016, but Brinda said there is room for more, especially in a city she said is landlocked. All good news for Elyria. Brinda also said downtown Elyria is coming alive with new businesses and the expansion of other enterprises.

In one of the most anticipated parts of her address, Brinda discussed the city commissioned Highest Best Use Study and Redevelopment Plan for Midway Mall announced late last year.

The study is being used by mall asset managers to attract a developer interested in investing in the property.

And what worries Elyria officials, Brinda said, is if the Midway Mall area is left alone, the city could see $892 million in residential retail spending outside that area and the city of Elyria.

In Lorain, Ritenauer touted his successes, but he also discussed some things that residents probably won’t like.

Speaking to a group Feb. 23 at DeLuca’s Place in the Park, 6075 Middle Ridge Road, Ritenauer said the International City in 2017 is a community that is recovering, but at the same time, it’s in transition due to the economy.

The mayor said residents can expect to see action this spring on Oakwood Park, new police cars, two new fire stations, Broadway streetscape and a potential rise in utility bills.

Lorain is recovering from the international economic forces that drove oil and gasoline prices down, creating a struggle in 2015 and 2016.

It’s also recovering from funding cuts from state government to local communities and policies that erode home rule of cities in Ohio.

At the same time, Lorain is transitioning from an era of big manufacturing to smaller company job growth. He said U.S. Steel could be poised for a comeback, but Lorain also must look at smaller business gain and working to expand that growth.

Broadway and the city’s waterfront also is transitioning to become an entertainment area.

In one of Ritenauer’s most anticipated statements was the probable increase in sewer rates.

The mayor said the increase in utility rates could be on hold for several months and he will ask Councilman Joe Faga, chairman of the Streets & Utilities Committee, to postpone for two months committee discussion about the increase in the sewer rate.

Ritenauer wants Lorain officials to engage the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to hold off on a rate spike and to stretch out the rate hikes over more time.

This is a good move by Ritenauer.

Although, there’s no guarantee the city will be successful, he wants conversation with federal regulators to recalibrate what is happening with the utility rates.

Another hot issue the city is grappling with is Oakwood Park and the removal of some of the trees.

A committee headed by former parks and recreation director Bob Renney will review the master plan for the park.

As for Broadway, Ritenauer said, residents will see the city help stabilize the street building by building and block by block.

We agree with the mayor that people are watching how the city handles Broadway and the waterfront and the look of Broadway could entice new development.

Overall, Elyria and Lorain are in pretty good shape and the mayors expressed that when addressing their communities.

Both cities appear to be poised for strong comebacks.