The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Foreclosure filed on building
Treasurer seeking at least $51K in back taxes on former Lorain Products office building
The Lorain County Treasurer’s Office has filed to foreclose on a former Lorain Products office building in Lorain.
On Feb. 7, the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office filed the case against MaxMae Enterprises E4428 LLC.
The lawsuit alleges the company owes at least $51,630 in property taxes for the building at 1122 F St., along with vacant lots to the east, west and across the street between Illinois and Indiana avenues in Lorain.
The building also was an office for Emerson Network Power.
The foreclosure lawsuit was filed on behalf of Treasurer Daniel Talarek.
MaxMae Enterprises owes $55,455.57 in property taxes, said Talarek, citing the most current figure from his office.
“This is one of the most delinquent properties in the county,” said Lorain County Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pyanowski, who specializes in foreclosures and land use cases for Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will.
On Feb. 9, Timothy Beidleman of MaxMae Enterprises said he had not heard from the county Treasurer or Prosecutor’s office about the tax status or the court case.
He said he hoped to get the tax liability decreased because it is vacant and businesses are leaving Lorain faster than they are coming in, so it does not make sense to have high taxes on the vacant structures.
“I’m definitely going to be reaching out,” Beidleman said.
The lawsuit follows a Lorain Fire Department inspection of Jan. 25.
The foreclosure is part of continuing efforts by the county Prosecutor’s Office to collect delinquent property taxes, Pyanowski and Will said.
The case is not related to the recent efforts of the city fire and building inspectors, Pyanowski said.
Apart from the local history, the building could become a usable space with land available nearby for parking, he said.
“It would make an interesting property if someone is willing to invest in it,” Pyanowski said.
Beidleman agreed the building is vacant and in need of repair, but it has no structural damage.
The Lorain Fire Department inspection was part of the process to log commercial structures for a comprehensive list known as the city’s vacant commercial property registry.
Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Radman and inspectors found a number of potential nuisance conditions, including broken glass, exposed wiring and burned materials.
Photographs taken for the inspection showed the basement filled with water nearly to its ceiling.
One photo showed what appeared to be a wood pallet floating in the water.
The Lorain Historical Society had its own description compiled for its inaugural Spotlight Exhibit, featuring the history of Lorain Products.
“Between 1941 and 1942, Lorain Products Corporation purchased an old toy factory building at 1122 F Street, remodeled it to suit their needs, and began to continue the design and manufacture of electrical power equipment for the communications industry,” according to the historical society records.