The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Urban design firm seeks tales, memories
Lorain pride will play a part in developing the plan to reuse the former Stoveworks site west of downtown.
Lorain pride will play a part in developing the plan to reuse the former Stoveworks site west of the city’s downtown.
The Stoveworks, the former National Vapor Stove Company that for years was a dumping ground at 1200 Long Ave., will get a new chance at life with a plan created by Port, a Chicagobased urban design firm.
The city has hired the consultants to create the blueprint for the next project to grow there.
“First Heard in the 2nd Ward: Moments that Inspire Pride in Our Community,” is a project to compile citizen stories about the times and places that make them proud of the city.
Website
Port has created a website, 2ndwardspeaks.com, in which residents can submit their own video or audio recordings about Lorain.
Residents also can call 440-390-3600 to leave a voicemail version of their memories.
Those who like to write will find cards available at partner agencies, to pen their tales.
The first 100 participants will receive $25 gift cards for Fligner’s Market, Lorain’s hometown, independent grocer.
In the novel coronavirus pandemic, the public engagement process has changed, said Brandon Biederman, senior associate at Port.
COVID-19 makes it difficult to travel or convene large community groups, Biederman said.
But the planners already
have heard about the tightknit community and neighborhoods in Lorain, so they want to tap into that for the next step to redevelop the Stoveworks, he said.
“Our prompt basically is, tell us an activity or a place in your community that made you proud,” Biederman said.
The goal is to focus on Ward 2 residents, although any Lorainites can participate in the information gathering project.
Stoveworks
With business ceasing operations at the Stoveworks site about 1981, there may be few current neighbors who remember it as an operating factory, said Beiderman and Max Upton, acting director of Lorain’s Building, Housing
and Planning Department.
Residents do not need specific memories of the manufacturer there to participate.
“What we’re really hoping for is to be able to get and collect a number of stories across a wide spectrum,” Biederman said.
Gathering, sharing
The planners are not sure what they will receive, but they hope to compile the residents’ recollections into something meaningful, in a format that can be shared with the public, he said.
Once the public engagement process is complete, Upton said he hopes the city can have a plan by the end the month.
The city may ask developers for proposals in September
and could have a developer partner as early as October, he said.
For “First Heard in the 2nd Ward: Moments that Inspire Pride in Our Community,” the partner agencies are:
• Lorain Public Library System Main Branch, 351 W. Sixth St.
• Lorain Historical Society, 329 W. 10th St.
• Fligner’s Market, 1854 Broadway
• Lorain County Community Action Agency, 936 Broadway
• El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc., 2800 Pearl Ave.