State funds demolition of East Liverpool, Salineville and Wellsville dilapidated structures

EAST LIVERPOOL -- The Columbiana County Land Reutilization Corp. (The Columbiana County land bank) has been awarded $230,000 in the latest round of funding from the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program to demolish 20 dilapidated structures in three county municipalities.

Columbiana County is one of the 73 out of Ohio's 88 counties to receive a portion of the $11.9 million grant, which had $230,000 reserved for each one of the 88 counties.

The operating budget for Ohio allots $21.5 million every fiscal year to aid communities in demolishing dilapidated residential or commercial structures and prepare the properties for future economic development, according to a July 17 media release from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's Office.

The grant program has to date, provided more than $325 million to Ohio communities resulting in nearly 6,700 demolition projects across all 88 of Ohio's counties

"Every community deserves places that inspire pride and create opportunity," DeWine said. "By helping remove long-vacant, unsafe buildings, we're giving local leaders the chance to reimage these properties in ways that strengthen neighborhoods, attract investment and improve quality of life for the people that call Ohio home."

East Liverpool Mayor Bobby Smith, who is grateful that the city will have 20 dilapidated houses demolished with this funding, said that it's bittersweet to see this many houses go, but it's much needed. He said he would rather see them rehabbed, but many of them are beyond that, which is why he is thrilled to see them go. It's a way to clear out the neighborhoods and regroup.

With the decline in population, Smith said houses aren't needed 5 feet apart from each other and feels the city doesn't need that amount of houses for the amount of people who reside in the city.

Smith is hoping once the houses are torn down, the property can be taken over by adjacent homeowners who may want to expand their yard size.

A neighboring homeowner who is interested in acquiring property from a demolished house simply has to maintain the property for a year to claim ownership at no cost to them other than the property tax, Smith said. This will allow a homeowner to expand their lot size from 100 by 40 feet to 100 by 80 feet. The adjacent lot can be obtained through an agreement with the land bank. Once obtained, the lot must be maintained in order to retain ownership of it.

He noted this aligns with the city's goals for family-friendly owner-occupied residences. Smith noted that the city preferably doesn't want to give the lots to landlords but would rather see them go to homeowners who reside in the residence.

"In Ohio, every building has a story. When those stories come to an end, those properties still have one final purpose: making way for something better," Lydia Mihalik, director, Ohio Department of Development said. "By helping our communities remove those long-neglected structures, we're creating opportunities for new investment, new housing, new businesses and a stronger future for the people who call these neighborhoods home."

Of the 20 properties designated for demolition from this round of funding; 16 are located in East Liverpool and two in both Wellsville and Salineville.

The East Liverpool properties include1009 Monaca St., 1017 Ephriam St., 1062 Waterloo St., 1066 St. Clair Ave., 1167 Boyd St., 1260 Erie St., 149 Thompson Ave., 1719 Anderson Boulevard, 188 Beechwood Ave., 316 Ogden St., 636 Avondale St., 838 Lisbon St., and 903 Vine St.

"We got the lion's share of it all, but of course we have the lion's problem of it all," Smith said on the amount going towards East Liverpool properties. "We are very thankful for that, and we work with the land bank very well. We would be lost without the land bank over the years."

Smith noted that due to funding cuts, this is half of the amount that was taken down last year.

"Even though it has been cut in half, we are still grateful for it," Smith said.

Salineville properties include 13-17 and 23-27 E. Main St.

Wellsville properties include 245 Wells Ave., and 315 Ridge Ave.

Mayor Bob Boley said that while he is happy to hear two more blighted properties will be dealt with.

Smith contacted Bobby Ritchey, executive director, Columbiana County land bank to find out when the work would begin and said, Ritchey told him there is no current timeline for when the demolitions will take place, but the organization will be going out for bids on the project in August.