Belmont school is coming down (2024)

BELMONT — Work to demolish the former Belmont school building will begin July 15.

The 109-year-old brick structure fell into disrepair prior to the late Stan Sobel stepping into the mayor’s office in 2016. A leaking roof that was neglected led to falling plaster and other damage. What once were beautiful, well-maintained hardwood floors buckled and bowed.

Despite the fact that it had served as the municipal building and as a Christian high school after it was vacated by the Union Local School District and sold to the village for $1, Sobel knew on his first walk through the structure that repair costs were beyond the village’s means and that it likely would have to come down.

In January 2016, Sobel said he was “speechless” at the condition of the building, where he had expected simple adjustments to the thermostats would ensure a thrifty electric bill. Sobel said he arrived following a call from people looking at the heating system and was horrified by what he found.

“The floor was heaved up,” Sobel said. “There was mold on the walls and standing water in several rooms.”

He noted that water was literally pouring in around a door frame area.

“It looked like a waterfall in there,” Sobel said.

The building, which was built in 1915, served students of all ages, from kindergarten to 12th grade. Many older residents of the village graduated from the former Belmont High School. The building became an elementary school when the consolidated Union Local School District formed in the 1950s. It remained in operation as a public school until 1998, when elementaries across the district also were consolidated into a single new building on the Union Local campus near Interstate 70.

Now, eight and a half years later, Belmont Village Council and the administration of Mayor Ron Woods have finally managed to secure the necessary funding to have asbestos in the building abated and to have the crumbling structure removed. After efforts to work with the Belmont County Land Reutilization Corp., or land bank, on the project fell through, village leaders began working with Belomar Regional Council instead. In April, it was announced that the abatement and demolition work was being advertised for bid.

A pre-bid meeting was held April 22 so contractors could inspect the building. Final bids were due May 2. An initial estimate for asbestos removal came in at $200,000 in 2017, and Woods said the village has not yet received a final price for all of the work.

Council in May voted to accept one of three bids received for demolition of the structure. Natalie Hamilton from Belomar, who helped find funding for the project in the form of a federal Brownfield Relief Grant, said Belomar recommended accepting the low bid submitted by Raze International at $257,040.

Based on the bid, Village Solicitor Ricky Burkhead estimated that the village’s 25% match for the project would be around $75,000 since a $10,940 contract with Boggs Environmental to provide hazardous material removal support on the demolition had been approved late last year and other administrative fees would be part of the final cost as well.

Burkhead confirmed that he had enough village funds “set back” for that match.

During a regular council meeting held Tuesday, rather than the usual first Wednesday of the month, Burkhead announced that the pre-construction meeting had resulted in a date of July 15 for work to begin. He said initial steps will primarily consist of site preparation work, including installation of barricades and other safety measures. Officials expect work to begin on the Third Street side of the structure and to progress east toward the gym.

Councilwoman Lorie Grob asked how the work would impact gym rentals and parking for those who hold events there.

“My understanding is they are going to attempt to accommodate a pathway to the handicap ramp,” Burkhead replied.

He and Woods said people could park outside the village offices in the basem*nt of the gym, located at 209 Brown St., on the east side of that building. Additional parking will be made available if needed in the grassy area off the blacktop of the playground on the north side of both buildings. They stressed that no parking will be permitted on the asphalt.

Burkhead also discussed the timeline for the work.

“He’s saying 90 days, but I’m betting they do it quicker,” he noted.

Board of Public Affairs President Ken Davis said he was present when a representative of the Ohio Environmental Protection was on site performing pre-construction inspections. He said the EPA was checking to see “what was hot” in terms of asbestos contamination in the building that was built in two sections. Based on those findings, it is believed more asbestos is present in the easternmost portion of the structure, and that is why demolition will proceed from west to east.

Grob continued to inquire about parking and the approach to the gym, pointing out that many rentals involve young children attending birthday parties.

“I just want to make sure there’s a safe pathway,” she said.

She was told that use of the usual parking lot on the south side of the building will not be possible during demolition.

At the suggestion of Councilwoman Sarah Scott, it was agreed that renters will be informed about parking changes and that details will be shared on the village Facebook page.