City looks to demolish dilapidated structures

The dollars will become available in September.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- If things go as planned, residents here will see some dilapidated and condemned homes eliminated.
Mayor James Melfi said city council will likely discuss using Community Development Block Grant funds to demolish homes on a list in the city.
Council must first approve submission of the application detailing how the money will be used to the Ohio Department of Development.
The mayor said the city will receive about $51,000 in CDBG funds this year. He said it will cost between $3,500 and $4,000 to demolish each structure.
"A dozen homes is what we are looking at doing," Melfi said. "The procedure says they must be first condemned by the board of health, and we do have a list of those buildings."
Melfi said it is important to eliminate dilapidated homes before they have the opportunity to affect entire neighborhoods. He said one condemned home in a neighborhood can ruin the appeal and the property value of other homes there.
"It has always been my policy to demolish as many of these condemned homes as possible," he said. "It is very important that the city take an active role in this."
George Zokle of CT Consultants of Austintown, retained by the city, said grant application must be filed with the state by July 14. The funds will become available to the city in early September.
Zokle said the project must satisfy one of two Housing and Urban Development national objectives to win approval: benefiting low- to moderate-income households, or eliminating blight. The city's proposed project, he said, works directly toward elimination of blight.
What is to go
Some of the structures on the city's demolition list are:
503 Dearborn St.
109 Ella St.
118 W. Howard St.
7 N. Randolph St.
The old Brewery bar on South State Street.
Old gas station on South State Street.
Whistlers Lounge on South Lorain Avenue.
Old Feed Store on West Wilson Avenue.
243 East Liberty St.
The public is invited to voice their concerns or give input at a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. June 19 in council chambers at the city building.