North Wayne Street house comes down

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Tuesday’s demolition of a vacant house on North Wayne Street was just the first in a series of derelict houses that city and county officials want to demolish this coming year.

The Wayne Street house, which has been a longtime eyesore to those coming into Van Wert on Lincoln Highway, was brought down in a couple of hours Tuesday.

The funds for the demolitions come from two sources: the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) and the state Moving Ohio Forward Demolition Grant Program (MOF).

The NSP was established to help stabilize communities hit by foreclosures and home abandonment because of the recession. The grant program was part of the Housing and Economic Development Recovery Act adopted in 2008. A total of $135,695 was earmarked for Van Wert County under this program, said Bill Lawson, Van Wert Engineering Department supervisor, whose department administers city demolitions. Lawson said seven houses have been demolished using funds from this program, including the Wayne Street house, while an eighth house was remodeled.

Under the Moving Ohio Forward program, established by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, the county received $156,586 to demolish abandoned houses that have been eyesores and safety concerns.

Both grant programs are administered through the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners, with funds to be distributed throughout the county to demolish or (in the case of the NSP) rehab properties.

Lawson said it’s good to have money available to demolish derelict properties, but the grants won’t take care of all the eyesore properties in the county.

“Because of the expense of asbestos removal and other factors, it’s not always cost-effective to demolish some of city houses,” Lawson noted.

Several factors play into the city’s selection of properties for demolition. First, a relatively small amount of asbestos, permission of the property owner, if owned privately or by a financial institution, and the lack of a lien on the property.

Having a relatively small amount of asbestos can cut demolition costs significantly, Lawson said, while the other two factors are even more critical in making a decision on whether to demolish a house, since both could result in a lawsuit.

Lawson also attempts to secure residences being considered for demolition from being used by homeless vagrants or by animals, including cats and raccoons — the most prevalent “tenants” of the city’s derelict homes.

“I had to use a hammer once to protect myself from a raccoon that attacked me,” Lawson said with a laugh, although it’s obvious that some of the responsibilities of his job he could live without.

Meanwhile, the city is hoping to demolish 12 to 13 houses this year, while a similar number could be torn down in county villages or rural areas.

Lawson, Van Wert Mayor Don Farmer, City Council members Pete Weir and Stuart Jewett and County Commissioners Thad Lichtensteiger, Gary Adams and Clair Dudgeon were all on hand Tuesday as the Wayne Street house was demolished.

“This is a cooperative effort between the City of Van Wert, the county and villages to get rid of unsightly and dangerous houses,” Lichtensteiger said.