Some houses should be spared from demolition

The city of Lorain is taking positive steps to remove derelict and abandoned houses from neighborhoods. At the same time, however, city officials need to listen to people who say they can rehab some of the crumbling structures and bring them back to life.

The city has been burned in the past with property owners who have said they were going to fix up their investments and they never do.

And that’s why the city is making strides to rid neighborhoods of dilapidated houses.

On Oct. 19, the Lorain Demolition Board met for three hours to consider 23 cases of houses that are vacant and deteriorating, so much that they create hazards to the public health of the city.

Safety-Service Director Dan Given said despite the rulings, residents may not see quick actions to get rid of the sites.

One reason is the city does not have money to pay for demolitions.

So, it’s unclear exactly when wrecking crews would tear down the homes.

Housing inspector Eric Elmi provided the Demolition Board with street addresses, parcel numbers and photographs showing conditions inside and outside of the houses.

Staff from the departments of Fire and of Building, Housing and Planning, with help from the Lorain County Health Department, inspected the homes.

But if a house is on the list and an individual or a company says the dwelling can be restored, the city should listen to their plan.

Glenn King of Legacy Property Management LLC attended the Demolition Board meeting and asked for a reprieve for 4310 Meister Road.

King says the house is salvageable and he outlined his plans to buy and restore it.

The Demolition Board, however, voted 4-2 to rule against King and called the house a nuisance and for it to meet a wrecking ball.

King could have been extended a deadline to buy the house, submit his plan to renovate it and bring it up to code.

And if he does not abide by the terms they agree on, the city could penalize him.

After the Demolition Board meeting, King told Morning Journal reporter Richard Payerchin that if 4310 Meister could be saved, it would generate property taxes that would help the city and save the neighborhood from having a vacant lot, which also could hurt property values.

All King wanted was for the Demolition Board to give him a little more consideration and not just slam the door.

Not only for King, but for others as well, the city should listen to them if they say they have a plan to restore houses.

Another dwelling at 4248 Leavitt Road is on the demolition list.

Lorain fire Assistant Chief Christopher Radman said it caught fire Jan. 20, 2016.

Rebecca Smith, who owned and lived there but was not at home when the fire broke out, said no one was hurt in the blaze.

Smith said she had a buyer for the property, but the buyer won’t close on the deal while the house is on the demolition list.

The Demolition Board voted to demolish the house.

Given and Smith noted the city has money to pay for demolition due to an insurance policy on the home, but Smith said she already had a point of sale for the house and a willing buyer.

Smith said the city has the money for the demolition and that’s why it’s going through with it.

The city should consider removing these two properties from the demolition list.

Yet we also wonder, why are King and others trying to save the houses now instead of doing so months, and maybe, years ago?

Both properties have the potential to have new owners who are willing to spend money to rehab them.

On the other end of the spectrum, there’s no question some of the houses on the list must come down, and hopefully soon.

People are squatting in them, there’s evidence of drug use and officials are finding dead animals inside.

These houses are havens for criminal activity and they must go.

In particular, 325 W. 14th St., which has gone unoccupied for more than 20 years.

James Feather is executor of the estate of the late George Schneider.

Feather plans to cooperate with the city to transfer the property to the Lorain County Land Reutilization Corp., or county land bank, for eventual demolition.

But there are many more and they must go.

For the houses that can be saved, the city should at least allow the chance for restoration.

An occupied house is better than one that is vacant.