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CW Council okays lumberyard demolition
(by Linda Dillman, staff writer - February 17, 2010)
Canal Winchester Village Council will allow the demolition of buildings on the former lumberyard site on East Waterloo Street paving the way for removal of the failing structures.
The action, that overturns a decision by the Landmarks Commission, was taken at council's Feb. 15 meeting.
The property is owned by the Guernsey Bank, who filed an application to demolish the buildings to make the site more marketable to potential developers. Since the property is in the Old Town District, approval initially fell on the shoulders of the Landmark Commission.
After reviewing the application, the commission determined: the bank did not submit a plan for redevelopment as required by Preservation Guidelines; demolition would hurt the physical character and existing streetscape; and demolition was not justifiable due to marketability.
In January, Robert Patrella, Guernsey Bank president, appealed the commission's denial of the demolition application.
"I think the Landmark Commission is on board (with the demolition)," said Mayor Mike Ebert, "but they were bound by the book. There's a bunch of conditions they (Guernsey Bank) have to follow. They have to make it look nice. The bank owns the property, but there will be no development there until they sell it."
Ebert said officials took a tour of the buildings and grounds last year.
"There was trash inside and evidence of animals and people there," said Ebert. "I think it's time for it to go. The last I heard, the bank wants to get started right away, as soon as the weather gets better."
Based on the condition of the structures, council determined there was little historical importance to the buildings, which are deteriorating and would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to renovate. Council and administration felt the demolition would create a clear site for new development.
According to a village history written by Frances Steube and Lillian Carroll, the first company to occupy the site was Helpman's Lumber Company in 1857. Historian George Bareis bought Helpman's in 1884, but the complex was destroyed by fire six months later. The lumberyard was rebuilt and owned by Bareis for almost 50 years.
Cellar Lumber Company purchased the operation in 1934 and added a building to display farm machinery. The company closed the site in 1988, but it was reopened under the Davis Paint Company banner before being acquired by Guernsey Bank.
The application was granted with a list of conditions, including: all buildings demolished and removed; all fencing, concrete, gravel, and drives removed; the site graded and seeded to avoid water runoff; and the area kept free of litter and mowed on a regular basis.
Guernsey Bank has one year to obtain a permit and complete the demolition.
SWACO says no to Canal Winchester
The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) told Canal Winchester sorry, but no, to financially compensating the village for changes SWACO made in diverting trash back to the county landfill from Waste Management collections in order to generate more revenue for the cash-strapped authority.
SWACO previously granted waivers to companies hauling trash collected within Franklin County to outside landfills. Waste Management operates a transfer station in the village, which generated over $800,000 in revenue for Canal Winchester, but must now haul refuse to the Jackson Township site.
The change affects the way Waste Management does business and, according to the company and village, jeopardizes transfer operations in the village, in addition to the impact on the local community with a potential loss of more than 270 jobs. Consumer prices for service could also go up. The village received preferred rates because it hosted the Waste Management transfer facility.
Canal Winchester asked SWACO to consider compensating the village for the loss in revenue after the authority terminated the waiver program, but, after months of face-to-face meetings and discussions, the answer came via written correspondence.
"We've had meetings on everything until we received the letter," stated Ebert. "We haven't heard anything from them since, no follow-up call, nothing. Our agreement with Waste Management is up in July and decisions have to be made by then."
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