The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
More demolitions coming, city staff say
More demolitions are coming soon to Lorain’s neighborhoods, according to plans on file at City Hall.
Meanwhile, the city’s Demolition Board of Appeals members say they want to see more action on the house at 1038 W. Erie Ave., or a demolition order will go into effect.
On July 15, the Lorain Demo Board met and saw photos from an inspection of that house.
Safety-Service Director Sanford Washington said the dwelling has been an eyesore that Mayor Jack Bradley wanted to address and see immediate improvement.
That property, owned by Robb Wenrick, had a demolition order.
Wenrick contacted city staff once they parked an excavator in the front yard preparing for demolition, said Housing Rehabilitation Administrator Greg Landry.
Wenrick applied for the stay of demolition in August 2020 and the Demo Board granted it, but the stay ended in November 2020.
Landry said he revisited the house in late February and early March to look for progress.
His report included photographs of the inside and outside of the home.
Much of the work was cosmetic, not structural, said Landry, and Lorain fire Assistant Chief Greg Neal said there were no glaring issues relating to fire safety.
Washington agreed there has been movement to improve the house, but not significant progress.
Wenrick has not pulled any building permits for work in the house, which would show the intention to make significant improvements, said city Electrician David Velez.
The Demo Board voted unanimously to review Wenrick’s renovation plans included with his request for the stay of demolition.
Without that, the city will move forward with the demolition process, Washington said.
Demolition on hold
The Demo Board granted a stay of demolition for 516 W. 15th St.
The owner has not completed remodeling, but is on track, with new interior doors installed.
Shower, flooring, kitchen and bath sinks will be installed and completed in August, according to a letter sent to Velez.
The Demo Board continued a stay of demolition for James Byrd, owner of 809 Harriet St.
Byrd’s family still is renovating the house, and hoped to have it completed for inspection this month.
That likely will be pushed to September due to delays, Byrd said, but they are making progress on the house.
Bids come in
The city staff on July 14 accepted bids for demolitions of four properties:
• 207 W. 31st St.
• 313 W. 10th St.
• 413 Colorado Ave.
• 2236 Elyria Ave. There is an apparent low bidder and Lorain City Council could consider awarding a contract in legislation on July 19, said Matt Kusznir, neighborhood development specialist in Lorain’s Building, Housing and Planning Department.
The tear-downs are scheduled for completion by Aug. 15.
More on the list
The department also published its monthly report for June.
It is a list of projects with updates prepared for City Council and includes addresses for 17 more houses that have come down or will this year.
• 2518 Caroline Ave.
• 1225-1227 W. Second St.
• 2528 E. 37th St.
• 3174 Caroline Ave.
• 907 and 903-905 Seventh Court
• 113 W. 28th St.
• 346 W. 23rd St.
• 338 W. 23rd St.
• 2213 E. 32nd St.
• 1002 W. 21st St.
• 210 W. 23rd St.
• 3155 McKinley St.
• 2380 Apple Ave.
• 1029 W. Ninth St.
• 2911 Cleveland Blvd.
• 1364 E. Erie Ave.
• 753 E. Erie Ave.
Old Lorain Products
Neal said Lorain fire Chief Christopher Radman has noticed conditions getting worse at the former Lorain Products building on F Street.
He suggested the Demo Board take another look at the building because it is causing more issues in the city, and Washington agreed.