West Park Shopping Center demolition supposed to be done by July 14

Mayor Tim Theaker, left, talks with Marc Milliron of the city's codes and permits office seated at the table, and attorney Craig Bizar on Zoom, representing West Mansfield Realty LLC, Tuesday regarding the West Park Shopping Center about the timeline for the start of the Park Avenue West shopping center demolition project.
Mayor Tim Theaker, left, talks with Marc Milliron of the city's codes and permits office seated at the table, and attorney Craig Bizar on Zoom, representing West Mansfield Realty LLC, Tuesday regarding the West Park Shopping Center about the timeline for the start of the Park Avenue West shopping center demolition project.

Mansfield Planning Commission is still waiting for the appeal bond as required for the contractor to demolish West Park Shopping Center.

Tuesday, during the commission's meeting at Mansfield Municipal Building, members had a short conversation with an attorney of the West Mansfield Realty LLC, owners of West Park Shopping Center.

The shopping center's owners earlier asked for an additional six month extension to seek out a demolition contractor and complete the demolition of the dilapidated structure.

The extension date to complete demolition is July 14. Demolition orders were placed on the shopping center Nov. 14, 2022 following 60 days from an inspection that identified several concerning structural issues.

Craig Bizar of West Mansfield Realty, via Zoom, told members of the planning commission and Chris Brown, deputy law director, as soon as the asbestos survey is completed and he learns the total cost of the project for the contractor, he will pay the necessary bond amount required for the contractor.

Mayor Tim Theaker suggested the board make a motion to hear from Bizar again at its May 23 meeting to seek an update on when the demolition will start, and the board agreed.

West Park Shopping Center

In 2022, the owner of the West Park Shopping Center notified the city of Mansfield it will demolish the dilapidated, vacant portions of the property at 1157 Park Avenue West.

This once popular corner of the West Park Shopping Center is now completely vacant.
This once popular corner of the West Park Shopping Center is now completely vacant.

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

Three years ago, the News Journal reported that two-thirds of the stores sat empty, their windows painted black. Maintenance of the property has fallen off to the point that in July 2019 the city gave the mall's New York owners 30 days to fix numerous safety issues or the mall would be condemned, spurring the owners into action.

Sign for fuel station to go up at Mansfield Lahm Airport

In other business, Doug Kelly with Niss Aviation requested to install a pole sign at Mansfield Lahm Airport and the board made a motion to approve the sign.

The proposed sign is to advertise for the fuel station on site known as AVFUEL. The sign is eight feet in width, 11 feet in height and will rest on a pole about 14 feet in height. The entire height shall not exceed 25 feet. Current zoning for this area is airport and the airport zoning district does not have any sign requirements, therefore a conditional approval for a sign was requested.

Members also heard that demolition with Skilken Gold of "Cinema World," 1300 Park Avenue West, is completed and the company can be refunded its bond payment.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Niss Aviation requests conditional approval of sign for fuel station