Rehab for Stoveworks site moves forward with plans for affordable housing

LORAIN — A former industrial site is one step closer to finding new life with a portion of the property set to transfer to the city of Lorain. The former Stoveworks site, at West 13th Street and Long Avenue, has been a longstanding thorn for the city, from its time as an abandoned eyesore to an expensive cleanup process. At Monday's Council meeting, the matter took another step forward, with the city set to take ownership of parcels on the east side of the space from Old Lake Properties, LLC. Old Lake Properties, owned by contractor Don Buchs, has five of the Stoveworks parcels along Long Avenue. The city will use up to a $100,000 grant from the Nord Family Foundation to acquire the remaining parcels to allow for affordable, single family homes. A purchase agreement is still in the works, Building Housing and Planning Director Max Upton told Council. PORT, a Chicago-and Philadelphia-based design firm was hired in the fall of 2020 to plan the next life of the former site, including soliciting input from area residents and stakeholders on what they would like to see done. While initial designs included an apartment building — to some Council members dismay — the latest look is toward single family homes. The area is considered low-to-moderate income, or LMI, by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, meaning federal funds can be used to support certain projects. Upton said a final blueprint for the development, including if it would be restricted to senior housing, or homeownership versus rental units, was not immediately available. The city recently received the results of a housing study performed by Cleveland State University's Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. In it, it notes the 2nd Ward, where the Stoveworks site sits, has mostly older homes — nearly all built before 1939 — and the highest proportion of renters, at more than 61 percent. The 3rd Ward, which borders the site along Washington Avenue, has a higher percentage of homeownership, also with older homes built before 1959. Mitch Fallis, D-at large, said the redevelopment could provide part of a solution to the city's need for affordable housing, including affordable senior housing. In addition, another housing project could come to the south side, Councilwoman JoAnne Moon, D-5th Ward said. Members unanimously passed legislation to vacate the right-of-way on a 50-foot portion of Globe Avenue abutting East 39th Court. The property will revert to Todd Hall, who plans to build housing there -- not a junkyard, Moon said. Council also approved the city's Housing Court docket expansion through the end of 2022, which includes three additional part-time positions to allow for an increased workload. It is one of several upcoming ordinances set to handle housing code deficiencies throughout the city, Upton said, including hiring a process server to help with tracking down out-of-area property owners. The process server will be able to serve individuals wherever they can find them, including their home, workplace or church. After discussions at last week's committee meeting, members approved a short-term replacement to the city's "me too" clause for nonbargaining employees, giving managerial and non-union positions a 4.3 percent raise for 2021. Council plans to revisit the topic in the future. Contact Carissa Woytach at 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com.