Around Town and Gown

24 Demolitions in 2012 bring 4-year Tally to 77

What's the most memorable structure you think Kent has lost recently?

In the past four years structures across Kent's landscape have quickly been disappearing.  And 2012 was no exception. The city issued demolition permits for 24 structures in 2012. That's the most in one year since 2009, when Kent started to see a sudden rush of construction work largely in preparation for the more than $100 million redevelopment of downtown under way now. Here's how the number of razed structures spread out over the past four years:  That's 77 total buildings that were erased from the landscape permanently. To be fair, that number includes some less than memorable buildings ranging from detached garages to condemned houses and even a vacant old motel. But included in that massive pile of bricks was the old C.L. Gougler …

•  8 Comments
• Videos (1)

Demolition Appeal Tied to Eviction Case

Neighbor dispute mires fate of property at 509 Franklin Ave.

"It's beyond strange." That's how Kent Board of Zoning Appeals member Steve Balazs described an appeal by a Kent property owner to a city order to demolish his house at 509 Franklin Avenue following a fire, squatting and eventual condemnation of the property. The zoning board listened Monday as Caven McLoughlin, the owner of the house, and his attorney Diana Prehn argued that the city should reverse a condemnation ruling on the property that put the building on track for demolition. "Reasonable time is all I ask," McLoughlin said. "It’s always been the intent to bring it to the point where it would be suitable for other residents." The problems at McLoughlin's property started when the neighboring building, owned by John Spindler and his …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Gougler Plant Basement Left Buried Underground

City gives OK for property owner to leave concrete basement beneath leveled site of old factory

It turns out the former C.L. Gougler and Machine Co. factory on Lake Street wasn't completely erased from the landscape following its demolition last year. The concrete basement floors from the 65,000 square feet factory that was demolished in 2012 will remain. The Kent Board of Building Appeals granted a variance to the property owners, Furukawa Rock Drill USA, that allows the company to leave the concrete floors buried underneath the soil. City building code requires all components of a demolished structure, including floors, be hauled from the site. Jeff Crane, president of FRD USA, said officials at the firm wanted to leave the basement floors in as a foundation for a new drive that will be built for the plant, which makes blast hole …

• Photos (3)

Editor's Picks: Top Stories of 2012

Editor's Picks: Landmark Gougler Building Demolished

Kent Patch gives you the editor's picks for top 10 stories of 2012.

Editor's note: For almost a hundred years it towered over Kent, but in moments the C.L. Gougler and Machine Co. smokestack was erased from the landscape. The smokestack, along with the plant that employed thousands over the years, was demolished. The building had been vacant for decades and the property owner, Furukawa Rock Drill USA, wanted to turn the area into greenspace. FRD USA did a great job of documenting the process, saving what could be saved (a restored lamp post from the property stands outside the Kent Historical Society) and involving past employees in the factory's final days. For 2012, this story is one of my picks for top 10 stories of the year. RELATED COVERAGE:

• Videos (2)

Kent State to Raze 10 More Houses for Esplanade

Properties all owned by university

Kent State University is getting ready to demolish 10 more houses in the neighborhood west of campus for construction of the Esplanade. The Kent Community Development Department issued 10 demolition permits to the university this month for structures at the following addresses: 122 S. Lincoln St.; 128 S. Lincoln St.; 117 S. Willow St.; 123 S. Willow St.; 129 S. Willow St.; 205 S. Willow St.; 209 S. Willow St.; 210 S. Willow St.; 230 S. Willow St.; and 329 E. College Ave. Lockhart Companies, of Akron, OH, will handle the demolition of all 10 structures. Some of the properties have already been completely or partially demolished. A fire almost completely destroyed the house at 128 S. Lincoln St. in November. And 128 S. Lincoln St. is where …

•  10 Comments
• Photos (4)

Building Permits: Multiple Demolitions and Renovations

All information is according to the Kent Community Development Department

Here's the latest batch of building permits issued by the Kent Community Development Department:

• Photos (1)

9 Houses Left to Demo for Esplanade

University working to accelerate process in light of fire, vandalism

Following a fire and vandalism at two vacant houses owned by Kent State University officials there are working to expedite the demolition of nine remaining vacant properties in the neighborhood west of campus. Kent State spokesperson Eric Mansfield said the demolition of the houses has been bid and contracts are being prepared to be signed by the Ohio Attorney General. "In light of the suspiscious fire, we are doing our best to accelerate the contracting process," Mansfield said. Firefighters responded Saturday to a fully involved fire at 128 S. Lincoln St., one of 41 properties bought by the university to extend the Esplanade. The house was destroyed in the fire. And just days earlier vandals smashed windows and kicked in the front door …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (3)
• Videos (1)

County Ready to Demolish Old Jimmy John's

City issues demolition permit; site prep work already under way

Portage County officials are ready to demolish the old Jimmy John's location on East Main Street for construction of the new Kent courthouse. The Kent Community Development Department issued the demolition permit for the former restaurant at 313 E. Main St. this week. Jimmy John's relocated to the Kent Stage building earlier this summer. Meanwhile, city building officials are reviewing plans for the new courthouse, which already has site plan approval from the Kent Planning Commission and design approval from the Kent Architectural Review Board. PREVIOUS COVERAGE:  

•  2 Comments
• Photos (2)

Building Permits: Decks, Decks and More Decks

All information is according to the Kent Community Development Department

Decks seem to be the order of the summer in Kent, as the Kent Community Development Department continues issuing permits for the popular at-home summer escape. Here's the latest batch of building permits issued by the city: The city also recently issued eight demolition permits to Kent State University to bring down houses in the path of the Esplanade extension. The addresses for the houses slated for immediate demolition are:

• Photos (1)

PHOTOS: House Demolished for Esplanade

City brings down first house Wednesday, second demolition expected today

Demolition is under way on the houses that must be removed to make way for Kent State University's Esplanade extension into downtown Kent. The city, which is handling construction management of the project, demolished the first of eight houses Wednesday that will be immediately razed for the pedestrian pathway. Scroll down for recent stories on the Esplanade project:

• Photos (6)