Oberlin Ave. eyesore must be cleaned up

The former American Crucible bearing plant, 1305 Oberlin Ave., burned to the ground March 10, and it’s time for the property to be cleaned up. ¶ Since the blaze destroyed the building near the end of winter, residents, along with motorists and walkers, have had to endure looking at the ruins left behind.

It’s long overdue for that land to be cleared of the debris.

As one of the biggest eyesores in the city of Lorain, the land is for sale for $49,900.

The Lorain Fire Department ruled the cause of the fire as undetermined and forwarded that report to the Lorain Police Department for further investigation. The department has not issued a ruling.

Meanwhile, Synergy Investment Group Ohio Inc., owner of the property, has done nothing in the ensuing months to clean up the site.

Synergy Investment Group Ohio Inc. bought the property in October 2016 for $150,000 from Johnson Metall Group Ohio Inc.

Officials believe that because the property recently was listed as for sale no criminal charges are forthcoming.

Even Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley suggested that it’s a fair assumption to conclude that criminal charges are unlikely

The building was vacant when it caught fire, and city officials have said Synergy Investment Group Ohio did not have it insured.

According to Nabal Ali, a real estate agent with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, which is listing the property, potential buyers of the former plant will have to pay to clean up the mess.

The listing states the property’s main building was destroyed in a fire, but hints it’s still a good deal.

It’s not clear at this point how much it will cost to remove the debris from 1305 Oberlin Ave., but we’re confident that it won’t be cheap.

There is a lot of rubble that needs to be removed.

Even the realty company listing points out that cleaning will have to take place.

It says, “Land needs cleaned up. Value is in the land and back building. Property on 4.88 plus acres. Property includes 31 parcels altogether. Motivated seller!!.”

And because the former plant is on land that is private property, city officials have no idea what that cost might be because they don’t have access to the site.

It just may take a court order for a city official to step foot on the land.

During a July 5 Lorain City Council meeting, Councilwoman-at-Large Mary Springowski stated she has heard from residents who live near the former plant and they are not happy with the lack of progress in cleaning it up.

Springowski discussed how angry they are and have correctly called the property an eyesore.

Springowski also told fellow Council members that residents wonder why Synergy Investment Group Ohio wasn’t ordered to clean up the property.

She also pointed out that a resident expressed feeling shame that family members coming to visit over the July 4 holiday had to drive past the ruins.

This is embarrassing for the city that out-of-towners see land where a building burned down months ago and it has not been cleaned up.

But, the city’s hands are tied.

Bradley wishes he could order the city’s Public Property Department to go to the site and clean it up.

But the site is private property and thus guaranteed certain protections under the law.

Going on private property and cleaning it up, Bradley said, would in fact violate the United States Constitution.

Bradley said the city has tried to track down the property owners to gain permission to get on the property, but without success. City officials also have spoken with the realtor in hopes she could help workers get on the property, but those discussions also led nowhere.

Another potential issue is that whoever buys the property will have to be careful when cleaning it up.

Bradley noted that at some point in the past, hazardous materials found on the site were capped and whoever buys the property will have to make sure that cap is not compromised.

In the future, after the trash has been removed, hopefully, it can be used for some type of development to benefit the community.

Lorain does not need this stain on its reputation that in recent years has been upgraded because of improvements in downtown and beyond.

Synergy Investment Group Ohio Inc. must remedy this situation, and soon.