Nace Building repairs in downtown Lisbon ongoing in wake of citation
The open back of the Nace building and a broken wooden support beam at the top of the structure are two of the items that must be repaired within 30 days in order to satisfy conditions described in a citation from the Ohio State Fire Marshal, before further action is taken or potential fines incurred. (Photo by Evan Houk)
Caution tape lines the sidewalk in front of the Nace Building in downtown Lisbon on Tuesday. Repairs are ongoing that intend to correct issues raised by a citation issued to the Lisbon Landmark Foundation, which owns the building, by the Ohio State Fire Marshal on Jan. 22. (Photo by Evan Houk)
The open back of the Nace building and a broken wooden support beam at the top of the structure are two of the items that must be repaired within 30 days in order to satisfy conditions described in a citation from the Ohio State Fire Marshal, before further action is taken or potential fines incurred. (Photo by Evan Houk)
Caution tape lines the sidewalk in front of the Nace Building in downtown Lisbon on Tuesday. Repairs are ongoing that intend to correct issues raised by a citation issued to the Lisbon Landmark Foundation, which owns the building, by the Ohio State Fire Marshal on Jan. 22. (Photo by Evan Houk)
Trending
LISBON-- Work on the Nace Building at 111 and 115 N. Market St. downtown continues that will eventually correct issues raised by a citation from the Ohio State Fire Marshal that was delivered on Jan. 22, according to Barb DeCort, president of the Lisbon Landmark Foundation Board of Directors.
"We already had plans in place," DeCort said of the repairs.
The building is owned by the foundation, whose mission, stated on its website, is "to preserve the history and historic buildings of Lisbon for the aesthetic and economic benefit of our community."
The main issues raised by the citation are the roof, the open brick wall on the back of the building, and a wooden support beam near the top of the structure that must be replaced.
Corrective measures must be taken within 30 days or further action will be taken by the Ohio State Fire Marshal, such as an order to demolish the building, and fines potentially incurred, up to $1,000 per day, according to the citation posted in the street-facing window of the building.
The citation says the building presents "unsafe conditions," defined as "structures or existing equipment that are or hereafter become unsafe or deficient because of inadequate means of egress or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life or the public welfare, or which involve illegal or improper occupancy or inadequate maintenance, shall be deemed an unsafe condition." The citation orders the foundation to take "remedial actions" within 30 days as required by Ohio Revised Code section 3737.41.
A zoning permit was issued in September to the Lisbon Landmark Foundation and work on the building has been ongoing for the past few months, DeCort said Wednesday.
She said contractors had been hired prior to the citation and the foundation intends to make all the required repairs to save the building from being condemned. If the repairs are not completed within 30 days, she said the foundation will likely file for an extension to allow for more time to complete the necessary remedial actions.
Lisbon Fire Chief Mark Hall moved to condemn the historic building after sheet metal siding fell from the roof onto North Market Street during a powerful windstorm Jan. 9. At the Lisbon Village Council meeting that night, he cited Ohio Revised Code 3767.41, which deals with buildings that are a public nuisance, as justification for his action in the interest of public safety.
"I love history and I think the old buildings are great," Hall said Wednesday. "But public safety comes first."
DeCort said the roof was already repaired and secured within three hours of the sheet metal falling off during the Jan. 9 windstorm.
Work is continuing on the open back of the building to seal it with brick and mortar from the foundation up. About two-thirds of the wall has been rebuilt.
"We're not ignoring it and we would never want anyone to get hurt," DeCort said.
In recent weeks, the weather has been too cold to mix mortar, which delayed things, DeCort said.
"We already have contractors. One has to finish before the other can start," she said. "You can't put a second floor on when there's no first floor."
Once the wall is rebuilt, then the support beam at the top of the building will be replaced, she said.
The Nace Building was sold to the Lisbon Landmark Foundation four years ago for $10, DeCort said.
Volunteers helped to clear out all the junk left inside the building, which had sat vacant for at least a decade and fell into disrepair.
The foundation then had an annex addition on the back of the building removed, exposing its interior.
The Nace Building, built in 1850, originally housed the Nace Pharmacy and saw several different businesses move through it over the years, such as a gift shop and a bar. At some point, the downstairs was split into two storefronts and the upstairs converted to a residential apartment, DeCort said.
"It had a lot of businesses," she said.
The foundation's website states that the Nace Building is in need of "a full restoration in order to stabilize its structure."
"As recently as 2016, this building was eyed for demolition, but the location and the interconnected design of the rest of the buildings on the block means that the other buildings next to it are structurally dependent on the Nace Building," the website says. "With a proper restoration, the Nace Building can once again be a focal point and a point of pride for the village of Lisbon."