MOUNT VERNON — Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis addressed the concerns of downtown business owners, and city residents, regarding the continued closure of the 200 block of South Main Street, during Monday’s City Council meeting.
South Main Street fire destroys building
Videos, stories and photos pretaining to the fire of 201 South Main Street in Mount Vernon Ohio on October 25, 2010.
Mavis said he, along with city officials, will meet with representatives from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency today to discuss how and when the demolition will occur.
“We want to open the streets but we don’t want anyone to get hurt,” Mavis said. “The EPA doesn’t want to collapse the walls until they test the inside of the building.”
The 10-day waiting period following the issue of a demolition permit will be waived, Mavis said, because City Engineer Cameron Keaton confirmed the site was “unstable.”
Russ McGibney, vice president of the Knox County Renaissance Foundation, spoke to council and expressed concern that the demolition of the former Kresge building would leave the corner of South Main and West Gambier streets as a parking lot.
“It should be more than a bare parking lot,” McGibney said. “If we can pull together and come up with ideas we can make the space something to be proud of.”
samantha.scoles@mountvernonnews.com
