The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Developer plans demolition soon for St. Joe Center
Demolition could begin this year for the former St. Joseph Community Center.
On May 18, Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley issued a joint statement with Sal Treece and Anne Brensley, of A7 Development.
The company is the new owner of the former hospital complex at 205 W. 20th St.
The intention is to “create a mixed-use commercial, residential and retail project that would provide the area with much needed housing and employment opportunities,” according to the company’s plans.
Before that happens, the building will come down.
“Our first in a series of planned steps is to demolish the former hospital main building,” said Treece, managing partner of A7 Development. “This first step speaks to the community as to how committed we are in working with the community leadership in redeveloping the former hospital site as an expansion of the development planning of the waterfront.”
The exact plan has not been selected, but A7 Development intends to include senior housing, affordable housing and possibly an assisted living area.
Other amenities could include an urgent care center and a special housing priority program for veterans.
“We would love to have a mixture of residential unit types and permits for more than 200 dwelling units,” said Brensley, asset manager for the project. “We are working with some of the largest and most experienced residential developers in the country to determine what the right mix for the area would be.”
Bradley announced the update as part of a meeting May 18.
“This is welcomed news for the city of Lorain,” he said. “The St. Joe’s site has been an eyesore that has been a hotbed for vandalism and criminal activity for years.
“The demolition of the site is a sign of progress for the neighborhood, and we are excited for the future of the St. Joe’s site.”
Councilman-at-Large Mitch Fallis credited the efforts of Lorain business owner Jim Janasko, president of Janasko Insurance Agency Inc., for his work with the South Shore Development
Corp. to find a new owner of the site.
The permitting and zoning process will begin in coming weeks with hopes of announcing the site master plan by early September.
Getting rid of the building would fulfill a wish by the city administration, said city Safety-Service Director Max Upton.
“I have been in touch with the development team since the acquisition and have had numerous conversations about the needs of the community and the city’s desires to have the building demolished,” Upton said. “The A7 Development team has been receptive to our message of community need and resident input throughout the development process.
“This is just the first step of that process.”
Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Springowski said it is long overdue to see something nice go into that area of the city.
Growing up in Lorain, Springowski said she remembered “when it was very vibrant over there.”