Special to The Truth
Toledo City Council Members Vanice Williams, Cerssandra McPherson and Nick Komives and the Lucas County Land Bank President David Mann kicked off the demolition of a terrible eyesore in the Warren Sherman / Collingwood Springs neighborhood on Monday, July 7, at the corner of Ashland and Prescott near Bancroft Street.
The blighted commercial building at 2140 Ashland has been abandoned for over a decade. A prior building collapse has left a portion of the structure open and crumbling into the street. The property is unsafe for neighbors and is on the Fire Department’s “Code Red” list.
Williams, McPherson and Komives spoke about impact of the blighted area on the neighborhood and how Toledo can continue to improve as such eyesores are eliminated.
Mann spoke of the steps landlords need to take when faced with such issues. Keep the property in good condition, pay the proper taxes, “or we will tear it down,” Mann said.
Immediately following the comments, the demolition of the building began under the supervision of Advanced Demolition Services, Inc. The project is expected to cost $78,000. It is being paid for by a State of Ohio demolition grant and federal American Rescue Plan dollars from the City of Toledo.