West Park Shopping Center demolition deadline extended to July 2023

The Mansfield Planning Commission Tuesday granted a six-month extension to the owners of the West Park Shopping Center to finish demolition of the dilapidated, vacant portions of the property at 1157 Park Avenue West by July 14, 2023.

Commission member Dave Remy also suggested the commission designate multiple reviews of progress at the demolition site.

The demolition does not include the easterly businesses alongside of the Safe Auto Glass, according to Marc Milliron, Mansfield's building and codes manager.

Many of the businesses in the West Park Shopping Center have moved and their signs have been taken down.
Many of the businesses in the West Park Shopping Center have moved and their signs have been taken down.

In September, the News Journal reported the city of Mansfield Building and Codes had given notice to the owner of West Park Shopping Center that they had 60 days to make a plan to repair or demolish part of the shopping center on Park Avenue West.

Tuesday, Milliron said the planning commission will follow up with West Mansfield Realty LLC's attorney who joined the meeting via Zoom regarding making sure the demolition site bring it down to grass seed and dirt, as opposed to leaving the concrete slab. Remy said doing the demolition down to grass seed and dirt would make the property more attractive to resale.

In other business, the commission:

  • Asked William Barber, who was seeking several variances to construct his garage at 221 Brushwood Drive, to modify the proposed 28-foot height of a personal garage he wants to build.

This garage would be an unattached 56-by-80-foot d outbuilding. The board tabled the measure until Barber brings back revisions to the commission.

From the audience, Brandon Hunsinger, a building developer of Tower Lakes in the immediate vicinity, expressed concern to the board about building houses next to Barber's property someday. "Theoretically we could have homes near his barn," he said.

  • Granted the conditional approval for Verizon Wireless to erect a 125-foot cell tower at 479 Reed St. This is located at Bay World International on Reed Street and is within an I-1, low impact industrial district. Per city ordinance cell towers shall be presented with site plans which are then reviewed and approved by the commission.

  • OK'd an appeal order for Samuel Stahlke who purchased a house at 446 Spayer Lane through sheriff’s sale, unknown to him that this property had demolition orders, which were placed on such residence in September 2022 for being vacant, dilapidated, abandoned, no utilities and the owner was deceased.  At this time, the new owner Stahlke said he plans to make necessary repairs to live in the house once the remodel is completed.

Before adjourning, the board voted to cancel the Dec. 27 meeting and scheduled the next meeting for 3 p.m. Jan. 10.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Shopping center owners granted 6-month extension on demo completion