Weak, confused & helpless
by M. Stewart
The decision of the East Liverpool Board of Housing Appeals to give Willis Smith a 90-day extension on repairing his building at East Fourth and Broadway is a slap in the face to everyone working to improve this city. Progress depends upon government supporting those trying to make it happen, not enabling those who stand in the way. [See Smith given extension]
The board’s refusal to enforce its own decision makes city hall look weak, confused, and helpless. According to his own reported testimony, Smith is waiting for money to fall from the sky, and everybody but the housing appeals board knows that isn’t going to happen. No one is going to give him hundreds of thousands of dollars for a building that isn’t worth anything.
Enough already! It's time for a dose of reality. This issue isn’t about Kent State trying to crush the little guy; it isn’t about the town trying to get rid of business. It’s about the future of the city. Why is it that everybody but the housing appeals board can see through Smith’s lame tactics and ridiculous “plans”? Why is everybody so afraid of this guy?
Since the appeals board already has caved and granted another 90 days for compliance, nothing can be done until May 26. In the next three months, Smith no doubt will manage to organize a minimalist approach to addressing the problems. He’ll do just enough to keep the city off his back, and the building will remain standing. It will remain the premier eyesore in the town. Everyone at city hall will throw up their hands and say, “We tried,” and Smith will continue to flip the finger to us all.
If this scenario is unacceptable to you, make your feelings known to city council and Mayor Swoger. I’ll be at city hall on Friday looking for answers myself.
The decision of the East Liverpool Board of Housing Appeals to give Willis Smith a 90-day extension on repairing his building at East Fourth and Broadway is a slap in the face to everyone working to improve this city. Progress depends upon government supporting those trying to make it happen, not enabling those who stand in the way. [See Smith given extension]
The board’s refusal to enforce its own decision makes city hall look weak, confused, and helpless. According to his own reported testimony, Smith is waiting for money to fall from the sky, and everybody but the housing appeals board knows that isn’t going to happen. No one is going to give him hundreds of thousands of dollars for a building that isn’t worth anything.
Enough already! It's time for a dose of reality. This issue isn’t about Kent State trying to crush the little guy; it isn’t about the town trying to get rid of business. It’s about the future of the city. Why is it that everybody but the housing appeals board can see through Smith’s lame tactics and ridiculous “plans”? Why is everybody so afraid of this guy?
Since the appeals board already has caved and granted another 90 days for compliance, nothing can be done until May 26. In the next three months, Smith no doubt will manage to organize a minimalist approach to addressing the problems. He’ll do just enough to keep the city off his back, and the building will remain standing. It will remain the premier eyesore in the town. Everyone at city hall will throw up their hands and say, “We tried,” and Smith will continue to flip the finger to us all.
If this scenario is unacceptable to you, make your feelings known to city council and Mayor Swoger. I’ll be at city hall on Friday looking for answers myself.
posted by M. | 3:12 PM
20 Comments:
As much as I hate to say it, the order Smith was given was to EITHER repair or tear down the building, so if he does the repairs listed on the planning dept/s letter, he will be in compliance and the "eyesore" as you call it will be permitted to remain standing anyway.
I, too, don't believe he's going to get help from the state but the bottom line is, if he brings it up to standard, the building will remain.
Maybe the planning dept. needed to be a little tougher from the beginning on what was expected. Not just bandaids to bring it into compliance but something to make it look better, too.
But, in his defense, Smith is correct when he says there are buildings all over town in nearly the same condition which are also eyesores. Why aren't those owners being made to comply?
Perhaps his building is singled out because it is in the middle of the cultural district of town--the nicest part of downtown. Also, it is an area poised for development. Having said that, other owners of dilapidated buildings should be pressured in the same way.
Discussion turned to board members possibly voting to demolish the building with the hope that Smith would make necessary repairs before the final demolition could take place in about two years.
However, board member Bob Bloor said it was a matter of fair play to allow Smith some extra time, considering past decisions by the board and about the weather.
“We’ve given other people a ton of time,” Bloor said. “I think we would be remiss in not giving you the opportunity.”
I was there last night and I must say they did cave. Mr Bloor made a motion to give Mr.Smith 90 day extension. For about 5 minutes there was nothing said. Mr. Bloor asked again do I have a SECOND at which time Mr. Roberto Grogg seconded the motion reluctantly he said.
Now if you are not familiar with the East Liverpool Board of Housing Appeals. It has no public discussion like council meetings do. That did not stop me. I let Mr Smith now that the building is a hazard. Now some may say I am picking on him. Well I am, for 32 years has done nothing to his building. So when the review board gave him 6 weeks to come up with another solution, he said he can and quoted I will prove everyone wrong about my building. Well 6 weeks later actually it was 2 months (last meeting was cancelled due to the weather) he revoked his plan to the reviewing board, he comes to last nights board meeting with some names of people he talked to. Mr. Smith said “They want an architect drawing of the building and the plans I want to do to it” When Mr Golden asked about that Mr. Smith said it cost to much money to have the plans drawn up. Mr. Smith said it would cost around 20,000 and he felt it was to much money to put into a building in that condition. Mr. Golden asked what are you going to do. Mr. Smiths reply was I am going to send them pictures of the building that I took in 1982 when we renovated some of the building. With two members not present. The vote was going to go unanimous one way or the other.
Can anyone tell me a nicer corner downtown with such rich buildings; you cannot! You have Kent, Mary Patterson Building, Carnegie Library, Review, Masonic temple and the Ceramic museum. Yes Downtown is rich in building of great statue. Yes the smith building was nice way back when. Mr Smith has done no up keep. So I don’t feel sorry for the guy. Actually I think if he moved his business with a few more garages and some nice store front he would do a lot better business
Matt... it never ceases to amaze me that you are SURPRISED and outraged when this administration and city does something stupid. Maybe if you put the rose colored glasses that you see the rest of the city with on and wear them to work, you won't notice the Smith building as much.(LOL) Stop over and see me and Dave Friday after you leave city hall. I'd love to see what line of bullshit they feed you that day. And Lord knows it will be the same old broken record. Not a backbone ONE at that city hall.
Funny, though, the old YMCA building across from The Review's parking lot is an eyesore too...but nobody says a single word about that one. The brick street in front of the Hot Dog Shoppe is all but impassable. Nobody does anything about that one either. If Smith's order was to repair or tear down, then that's what he has to be allowed to do.
Fair is fair is right. And if the city really wants to get rid of Mr. Smith, they'll initiate an eminent domain order and take the property. Can it be that it is mostly Kent State that wants to snap up some more parking lot space?
The YMCA building is hardly an eyesore. It's in slight disrepair, but not even close to being an eyesore. Besides, Mr. Newbold has purchased the building and has plans to restore it.
For you to say that nobody talks about the condition of Fourth Street tells me you are a newbie to this site.
Kent State has plans to invest heavily in the campus area. Wow, that will be a horrible thing for the city, won't it?
Mr. Smith has had six years to do something with his building. Why is it fair to give him still more time? Eminent domain is a great idea in this case. That's what it's for.
Fair is fair, you're right.
MattELO--
Yes, I'm always surprised when I see city hall blatantly acting against the best interests of the the town. I recognize that in many cases there are legitimate disagreements on certain issues, but this case is a classic no-brainer. I know of no other city that would put up with this kind of bullshit. There may be one or two, but I don't know of them.
And yes, if I have time, I'll stop over and chat with you and Dave Friday.
Brian--
Thanks for the good inside information. It underscores the problem.
M. said...
[quote
Kent State has plans to invest heavily in the campus area. Wow, that will be a horrible thing for the city, won't it?
[end quote]
It could be depending on the ultimate goal
This topic has come up before here and I have asked a number of questions that no seems willing to answer
(1) Why give them a second bite of the apple? My understanding is the same outfit that developed the plan for the downtown renovation back in the 80s or 90s are doing this too. That plan back then was suppose to revitalize the downtown, bring business, wages, jobs, the same sound bites being tossed out now. It didn't happen.
(2) Kent State isn't going to be investing heavily unless it is going to benefit them. To benefit them is a given What are their goals in that area over the next 5 years, 10 years, 15, 20 years?
How many other pieces of property do they plan on going after in that area over that period of time.
For instance how does the Thompson House benefit Kent State? Eventually, wouldn't the land do them more good? How about The Review Building, the bank, the old Social Security building, Copper Insurance, and so on?
Hard to imagine they would invest heavily into an area that they only gain use of parts of it. It think that if they are really seeing this as becoming something major they are going to need buildings for more classrooms, maybe bigger libraries, etc. over time.
(3) For once what are the projected increase in jobs of various kinds to East Liverpool it this plan moves forwards. What sort of income will these jobs provide. I don't think that some academic positions will really add that much benefit to the town of ELO.
A thriving community or area needs more than just that.
How many other jobs are projected outside of Kent State from this, what kind, how many, what salaries.
Too many times the sound bites are offered with out any facts, figures, how deep the research is, how accurate, etc.
It is not unrealistic to think that if these shootings continue on university campuses that more and more they will become gated or fort like. Can anyone blame them?
How much trouble will the average non Kent State ELO citizen have to go through to get access to any of the companies and buildings in that district that are not yet owned by Kent State?
The discussion is about a area east to west from what is left of 3rd Street from the old MA to Washington Street. From north to south what is left of 3rd Street to south side of 5th Street and west to east from Washington to College.
I do seem to recall some mention of increasing that size was not impossible.
What percentage of the total central business district is that?
Buckeyeelo--
I'll never understand how you get yourself in a position where you see the potential growth of a university in a town that so desperately needs education as a threat. A threat to what? Stagnancy? Irrelevance? Decay?
The "them" you talk about is all of us. I know of few communities who need a university more than ours. This is the 21st century, not the 19th.
You have argued that we need to stifle the growth of the university and the hospital--the only two things Calcutta hasn't stolen from us (nor ever will). Clearly you are afraid of the professional classes. What I can't figure out is why.
Is Smith Auto Parts still in business, or is the building abandoned? Pictures, please....
What happens when Kent State decides it needs the library building's space? The Alumni Association Building? The Review building would probably make some nice extra classrooms, and they do have that double parking lot space.
If I were Mr. Smith, I would not move out and I would not raze my building for anything less than $1 million. If KSU wants it badly enough, they'll pay it.
Kent State is not permitted to pay more than market value for any property it acquires. This is a fact. I know you're not interested in facts, but I offer it just the same.
Another fact is that Mr. Smith is not going to get rich selling this dilapidated building to anyone. The first thing any purchaser would do is raze the building, which should tell him that his building is worth nothing--actually, less than nothing since it would cost money to tear it down.
It has become clear to me that everyone involved in this situation--the property owner, his advisers, and the housing appeals board are so deluded and confused that the state will have to get involved if anything is to happen for the public good.
Unfortunately, our city is suffering from severe paralysis and cannot act in its own best interest.
ELONative--
I do believe Mr. Smith still operates a business in the building. I'll post a picture of the building soon.
Has there been any offers made , by Kent or Smith?
Would you care this much if Kent State didn't sign your paychecks?
fair--
I care about this issue because I am a resident of the town. What on earth would it matter where I worked? What does that have to do with it?
So matt, what did you learn by going to city hall friday?
I had planned to see Safety-Service Director Bill Cowan just to get his take on the issue, but he is on vacation. I ended up speaking to his assistant about another matter. I did not see the mayor Friday.
In all fairness, the Board of Housing Appeals is a citizen-appointed board. While it acts on behalf of the city, the board acts independently. I do not hold Mayor Swoger or Mr. Cowan responsible for the appeals board's decision; however, as the chief elected official in town, the mayor is obliged to field questions and hear the concerns of residents. Although he is not an elected official, Mr. Cowan is someone I typically seek out for advice and assistance. I have already registered my concern with a council member, who shares my dismay over the Smith decision.
I'll make every effort to talk to Mayor Swoger next week to register my concern and to discuss the situation with him. Please understand that I do not hold the mayor or Mr. Cowan responsible for this situation. My desire to speak with them has everything to do with finding out about what alternatives are available to the city on this issue. I will continue to urge everyone who cares about this matter to let their feelings be known.
Mr. Smith stated Kent State offered him hunderds of thousands less than his property was worth. Has anyone checked into what the property value is? Has Mr. Smith tried to walk on the sidewalk when we have had snow, freezing rain, etc. No salt or shoveling takes place on that section of sidewalk. Is Mr. Smith so independently wealthy that he is not afraid of a law suit for neglect?
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