PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BRICK BY BRICK … Demolition of the former Elks lodge in downtown Swanton, seen here on the right, will be complicated by its north wall being in full contact, brick-to-brick, with the south wall of Stapleton Insurance, requiring its removal one brick at a time. The issue was discussed during the most recent meeting of the Swanton Economic Development Commission.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Swanton could get the former Elks lodge building demolished at effectively no cost to the village according to one possible plan laid out by the Swanton Economic Development Commission.
According to Village Administrator Shannon Shulters, County Commissioner Joe Short told her the commissioners could purchase the partially caved-in building from Swanton for the $31,000 for which they bought it, get their own funding, pay for the necessary studies, and demolish the building before donating the then-empty property back to the village.
Shulters said that if the village has to demolish the building, it could cost more than $100,000 due to the north wall being in full contact, brick-to-brick, with the south wall of Stapleton Insurance, requiring that wall to be removed a brick at a time.
If that path were to be pursued, she said, the village would be seeking brownfield remediation funding through the Maumee Valley Planning Organization and Fulton County Land Bank.
She said she has been working on finding grants to address the property since she first started working for the village.
Other discussion items during the meeting included an update on the formation of the Community Reinvestment Area Housing Council, and ongoing efforts to obtain an appropriate payout from the village’s insurance company for the January fire at the village offices.
Mayor Neil Toeppe said the village “may have to litigate” with regard to the insurance payment.
The next meeting of the Swanton Economic Development Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, August 12 at 12 p.m. at The Venue on Main, 124 N. Main Street.