What comes after the fire?

It could have been a lot worse. The fire that ripped through the former Uncle Vic's building Wednesday evening and into early Thursday easily could have gotten out of control and spread to nearby buildings in downtown Elyria. That the worst-case scenario didn't play out was thanks to the fearless work of the Elyria firefighters, along with firefighters from across the region, who spent hours bringing the blaze under control. Thankfully, no one was injured in the fire, which was ruled arson. One 17-year-old boy was charged with aggravated arson, breaking and entering and failure to report a crime in connection with the fire. Another was charged with breaking and entering. More details will emerge about the how and why of the fire, but given the damage there was no saving the storied building. Demolition of the charred husk began Thursday. That's a shame. Its current owner, Diversified Investments, run by Grafton businessman Kevin Flanigan, had plans to redevelop the building, but hadn't detailed exactly what they were. Even though the building, built in 1899, was vacant, it was a piece of Elyria's history. Over the years it housed manufacturing, apartments, bars, restaurants and even a newspaper. It was best known, however, as a center of the city's nightlife in the 1970s and beyond. Not only did it house Uncle Vic's in its heyday, but the former Mardi Gras and Benchwarmers bars as well. Those glory days were in the past. Violence and other problems plagued the clubs before they were shuttered about a decade ago. The building last made news in 2018 when falling brinks prompted the city to close the adjacent Merchants Alley. Fortunately, Flanigan said Thursday that he wasn't giving up on the area. "Despite the fire," he said, "we remain committed to the future development of downtown Elyria and will continue to work with the city of Elyria and our architects to analyze and access the situation." It was good to hear, because downtown needs to be revitalized. Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield rightly has made downtown, along with the Midway Mall area, the focus of his efforts to move the city forward. At a town hall meeting earlier this month, Whitfield predicted that change was coming to downtown. "There's a lot of momentum right now," he said. "By this time next year, you'll have a much different downtown." Whitfield's efforts to breathe new life into downtown haven't been without controversy. He's faced criticism because old buildings have been demolished, including the Century Block and Mussey Block. The Wooster building, also owned by Flanigan, is nearing demolition as well. Not every old building can be saved, however, and Whitfield has justified the demolitions as necessary because the structures were in poor condition. His administration also has proposed a grant program to help restore historic downtown buildings. That's a good idea, particularly given how quickly the downtown landscape has changed. The area already has some advantages that should help with a revitalization push, which will require collaboration between the city and private developers to succeed. Downtown remains anchored by several Lorain County government offices, including the Justice Center. It also is home to many historical buildings, including beautiful churches. The old Lorain County Courthouse and Elyria City Hall both have been renovated. Ely Square has an updated fountain. Additionally, a few new businesses have opened in recent years, and work is proceeding on the new Elyria Public Library, which should serve as a draw for people. A sharp looking downtown that mixes the old and new could be just what people will be looking for in the aftermath of the pandemic. Whitfield has cited Lakewood as an example of what downtown Elyria could be, with stores, restaurants, bars, coffee shops and even apartments. It's a tantalizing vision, and one that the city should pursue.