By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Some people look at new housing starts to measure progress. For at least this week Bucyrus Mayor Roger Moore is looking at the number of houses being torn down in his town and smiling about it.
“Three homes are coming down,” Moore said almost gleefully. “Right now that house on North Lane Street is coming down as we speak. Two other properties, one on East Mansfield Street and another on West Mansfield Street will be coming down later.”
Moore says the money to tear the houses down, including asbestos removal, came from the second round of funding from Moving Ohio Forward. The city received $32,300 from that source. Moore said the city takes possession of those properties as a result of delinquent back taxes and getting other entities with tax liens on the properties, like local school districts and the county, to sign off.
“Some properties that are torn down will eventually be put up for bid,” Moore said. “All of them will be subject to current zoning regulations which will limit the size and types of construction that can be done.”
Moore envisioned the biggest interest in those vacant lots to be from those who already live in those neighborhoods. While it will be difficult, if not impossible to rebuild a home, the mayor envisioned the possibility of someone wanting to put up a garage or some other similar structure.
Selling the North Lane Street property is not an option because it is in a flood zone. The city will continue to own and maintain that property and use it as a type of green space that will not be adversely affected by flooding.