The Madison County commissioners plan to apply for state grant funds to demolish the former First Baptist Church on West Fourth Street.
(Posted May 18, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The Madison County commissioners are looking into tearing down the former First Baptist Church on West Fourth Street near the county municipal court building.
The property has stood vacant for many years and is currently owned by the county. The commissioners hope to use state Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to pay for some or all of the demolition.
CDBG funds are used for projects that benefit low- to moderate-income people or eliminate slum and blight. Whitaker Wright of CDC of Ohio, the county’s CDBG grant administrator, said the church property qualifies as spot blight.
The county is securing estimates for the demolition. State law also requires an asbestos survey. If asbestos is found, abatement will be part of the project cost. Parts of the church facility date back over 130 years.
Madison County’s working CDBG bud-get for 2016 is $96,000. Originally, the commissioners planned to put the money toward demolition of a dilapidated apartment and office complex on West High Street. Following a recent sheriff’s sale, however, buyers are interested in purchasing the property. So, the commissioners began looking for other CDBG-eligible projects.
Whitaker said he reached out to government leaders in all of the county’s municipalities. London wants to upgrade streetlights and crosswalk lights on Main Street between Fourth Street and Lincoln Avenue. Mount Sterling has some minor sidewalk issues. Plain City hopes to apply for funding next year for sewer upgrades.
On May 16, the commissioners decided to place the church demolition as the top priority for CDBG funding. Any remaining funds would go to the London street light project.
Funding is contingent on the state accepting the county’s application. Applications are due June 17. The county will hold a public hearing on the proposed projects by no later than June 13.
Also on May 16, Bill Laney, president of the Madison County Airport Authority, updated the commissioners on improvement projects at the airport. Minor repairs are being made to existing hangars, and runway cracks have been sealed. The new 10-bay expansion hangar will be delivered and installed in June.
The airport is making plans for its 50th anniversary celebration in 2017. Events will be held in conjunction with next year’s London Strawberry Festival in June.
