Long vacant eyesore North Industry school building a growing concern in Canton Township

CANTON TWP. ‒ It's been 38 years since reading and arithmetic were taught inside the three-level building in the 4800 block of Wiseland Avenue SE.

And since 1984, what once was known as North Industry Elementary School has become a growing source of frustration for township officials who want to find a plan to demolish the vacant structure.

Because the building attracts intruders, township officials have fastened chain-link fence guards over windows, which are now covered with wooden sheets.

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"We put the screws into the concrete. It is a big project. People were starting to rip off the wood and gain access to the building," said township Zoning Inspector Michael Hanshaw. "We have gotten a number of calls about people going in and out of there. We had the Fire Department in there. It is uninhabitable. There are holes in the roof. It is only a matter of time before that thing falls in."

Owner can't be located

What is contributing to township officials' frustration is their inability to contact the listed owner. According to Stark County real estate records, it is Wu Xiang, who has a Cleveland address.

"As far as we know he is still the owner," Hanshaw said. "We haven't had any contact with him."

Xiang is not residing at his listed address, officials said.

"It is a junky house that recently was condemned by Cuyahoga County," township Trustee Christopher Nichols said. "Unfortunately that doesn't help us."

Because Canton Township does not own the former school building, township officials would have to pay for the demolition without assistance of certain grant programs. And township officials are estimating the demolition cost could approach $200,000.

"If we tear it down as a nuisance, we would have to bear that (cost)," Nichols said. "And we would never see that money again. I am pretty sure we could get it condemned. I don't know if we have the money in our general fund to tear it down. I can't imagine what the inside of that building looks like."

New hope for North Industry School

But there is hope for township officials. Because the property tax delinquency on the building is relatively high, Stark County officials anticipate putting the property up for a foreclosure sale, possibly in 2023. As of late November, the property tax delinquency stood at $26,392.

If no one submits a successful bid at a foreclosure sale, the property could come under ownership of the Stark County Land Reutilization Corporation, commonly known as Stark County Land Bank.

From there "it could be offered to the local government entity," township Trustee Mark Shaffer said. "We would want to go through the Land Bank process to clear the title and all the assessments."

Once Canton Township owns the structure, local officials could seek funding from the Brownfield Remediation Program, which falls under the Ohio Department of Development. Township officials also see their American Rescue Plan Act allotment as a source of financial assistance with any large-scale demolition.

Another potential source of financial assistance could be the Stark County Land Reutilization Corporation, which is managed by the county Regional Planning Commission.

"In order to qualify, they (township trustees) would have to own the property or have legal authority to do the demolition," said Sarah Peters, manager of the Land Bank program. "And that is typically through a nuisance abatement process or through a condemnation process."

Currently, the appraised value of the property is $30,000. This breaks down to $20,000 for the building and $10,000 for the land. But Shaffer expects the valuation will drop once the township has the chain-link fence coverings installed over the windows.

"The property will be worth less than its current valuation," Shaffer said "There is more owed in property taxes and assessments than the property is worth. It will tilt the property in a negative equity situation."

The former school building dates back to 1923. The physical neglect is obvious. A canopy over a debris-strewn porch is coming apart.

Neighborhood resident Drew Sherban said he has frequently chased out intruders.

If the former school building is demolished, "I would love it," said Sherban, who lives across the street. "The whole neighborhood would love it. It needs to go. Kids have been breaking into it, exploring inside."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Former North Industry school a growing concern in Canton Township