Clarion Hotel demolition pushed back

Published: Tuesday, 9/23/2014 - Updated: 2 seconds ago

BY IGNAZIO MESSINA BLADE STAFF WRITER

Demolition of the former Clarion Hotel eyesore in South Toledo, which has been delayed for weeks, was pushed back again with work now expected to start Thursday, a top official for the city of Toledo said.

Bill Burkett, commissioner of economic and business development, last month said demolition of the 11-story building at 2340 S. Reynolds Rd. would not begin until the contractor had finished removing contaminants, including asbestos insulation, mercury in thermostats, and batteries in the exit signs. Toledo taxpayers were put on the hook for another $38,000 to remove chemicals and hazardous materials. That was in addition to a $434,000 bid by Homrich Inc. of Carleton, Mich., to tear the building down.

Last week, Homrich was saying Wednesday and now they are saying Thursday of this week, Mr. Burkett said. During these delays, the fence keeps getting cut open, the plywood keeps getting taken off, and the building is broken into, so this is a lot more oversight on a daily basis than I had expected.

A representative from Homrich could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Burkett said the contractor is sending a specialized excavator to the site from another work site, but it was having trouble getting permits to transport the machinery through Indiana.

Once the work starts, it wont take long but I wish we would have been able to meet our 12-week deadline, he said.

Mayor D. Michael Collins said he also is frustrated with the delays and wants the eyesore razed as a catalyst for redeveloping that area where Southwyck Shopping Center once stood.

The mayor announced the beginning of demolition on July 7 and said the building would be gone in a month. When that deadline passed, city councilmen pressed for answers and an update.

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Clarion Hotel demolition pushed back