Condemned downtown Massillon buildings coming down

Malcolm Hall, The Repository
·2 min read
Crews work to demolish the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday. The downtown buildings were declared unsafe by the city following a partial collapse earlier this month.
Crews work to demolish the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday. The downtown buildings were declared unsafe by the city following a partial collapse earlier this month.

MASSILLON – Demolition workers started taking down two condemned downtown buildings along Lincoln Way E on Sunday.

"It's sad, isn't it?" Talina Fitch said, while watching the demolition occurring on the north side of the street.

A crew from Eslich Wrecking of Louisville razed 14 Lincoln Way E and began taking down its next door neighbor, 20 Lincoln Way E. Workers were back on the scene Monday.

City officials declared the buildings unsafe earlier this month, and there was concern they could collapse. A portion of the downtown is barricaded to keep the public away from the building demolition site. The closure includes a portion of Lincoln Way, which also is state Route 172 and a major east-west artery in this city of 32,140 residents.

"Safety is No. 1," Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry said. "They will probably be working throughout the day. They did not give me an end date. They are unsafe structures."

Erin Snider points as she and her sister Brooke Longheier, owner of CJ Duncan Jewelers, watch the demolition of the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in downtown Massillon that are next to the jewelry shop on Sunday.
Erin Snider points as she and her sister Brooke Longheier, owner of CJ Duncan Jewelers, watch the demolition of the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in downtown Massillon that are next to the jewelry shop on Sunday.

There was a partial collapse at the site earlier this month.

Having a major artery closed in the downtown commercial district is presenting a challenge for the public to access some businesses, such as Smiley's Ristorante & Pizzeria at 27 Lincoln Way E.

"We lost business," said Rada Smiley, proprietor of the restaurant. "We lost $1,000 to $1,500 a day. The reason we open up is to keep my employees going. We will try to survive."

When the demolition is complete, the downtown here will have a vacancy in the commercial area.

"We hope for redevelopment to have someone go in there and put in a business," said David Maley, city economic development director. "There is nothing right now in the pipeline. This all got done rather quickly."

The road blockage includes the use of street barricades and chain link fence.

A worker from Benders Food & Spirits watches the demolition of the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday.
A worker from Benders Food & Spirits watches the demolition of the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday.

"As soon as the area is safe, that is when we will remove everything," city Safety-Service Director Barb Sylvester said. "The buildings are structurally unsound and in immediate danger of collapse."

Sylvester identified the property owner as Towne Plaza.

"It is a very delicate situation," Catazaro-Perry said. "What makes it delicate is we are trying to save a couple (adjacent) buildings."

One of those buildings houses C.J. Duncan Jewelers at 24 Lincoln Way E and is owned by Brooke Longheier. Her building is next to the one demolished Sunday.

"The building burned 14 years ago," Longheier said referring to the building that was taken down. "We haven't had a building there for 14 years. It has just been a fake front. I guess I feel a little better now."

A demolition worker cuts a metal beam as part of the demolition of the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday.
A demolition worker cuts a metal beam as part of the demolition of the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday.
Workers check the wall between the corner buildings at 10 and 14 Lincoln Way E before continuing the demolition at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday.
Workers check the wall between the corner buildings at 10 and 14 Lincoln Way E before continuing the demolition at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday.
A claw takes down the metal decoration on the top of 14 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday. Crews worked to demolish the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E.
A claw takes down the metal decoration on the top of 14 Lincoln Way E in Massillon on Sunday. Crews worked to demolish the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E.
Debris falls from the top of 14 Lincoln Way E as the building comes down in Massillon on Sunday. Crews worked to demolish the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E.
Debris falls from the top of 14 Lincoln Way E as the building comes down in Massillon on Sunday. Crews worked to demolish the buildings at 14 Lincoln Way E and 20 Lincoln Way E.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Two unsafe buildings in downtown Massillon are being demolished