Demolition would create Depot District parking

A mural depicting a train that’s seemingly pulling into the former Pennsylvania Railroad Depot welcomes visitors to Richmond’s Historic Depot District. That train, though, will be replaced by cars, SUVs and pickup trucks.

The city of Richmond plans to demolish the former Mechanics Laundry and Supply Inc. building at 1002 N. E St., where the mural is painted, to develop a parking lot for about 50 vehicles. The plan took another step forward Aug. 12 when the Historic Preservation Commission voted 5-0 to grant a certificate of appropriateness to allow the demolition. The certificate is necessary because the building is in the Depot Conservation District.

The one-story steel building was built in 1956 on about a half-acre between North E Street and the railroad tracks, just east of the depot building. Dustin Purvis, the city planning director, said the 9,822-square-foot building is not fit for occupation because of disrepair from years of vacancy, and zoning does not permit the light industrial use typical of its past.

Purvis further said the building is not of architectural or historical significance, and contamination from Mechanics Laundry has been remediated.

The city purchased the building during fall 2021 for $25,000 with the plan of creating a parking lot. Richmond Redevelopment Commission has approved funding for the building demolition.

The current Loop project, which will add a bicycle path along Fort Wayne Avenue and North E Street, will maintain 66 parking spaces, including 24 along Fort Wayne and 42 on North E.

Although no one spoke during the public hearing, 10 nearby property owners responded to planning staff notification about the hearing. All 10 favored demolition and the resulting parking for Depot District businesses and events.

Crain building

In 2021, the commission issued a COA that permitted removal of the porch at the Crain building, 2116 E. Main St., but now a decision must be made about the entire Queen Anne-style building located in the Linden Hill Conservation District.

With rehabilitation cost prohibitive, the building continues to deteriorate during an ownership dispute, and possible stewards shy from taking on the responsibility. Member Jerry Purcell suggested commission members try to arrange a tour of the building and be prepared to make hard decisions about what should happen next.

Blight ordinance

A new blight ordinance is being formatted by the city’s legal department, Purcell said.

It would require all vacant and blighted buildings be registered with the city, which would charge a registration fee, and out-of-area owners would be required to select a local property manager. The buildings would be sealed using clearboard instead of plywood for the safety of first responders.

The ordinance would establish a commission to inspect the buildings and decide if they should be saved or demolished, Purcell said.

Successful workshops

Grant funding enabled the commission to conduct six workshops about rehabilitating historic homes. In total, 55 people attended the workshops.

Commission members said participants connected with each other and have discussed assisting each other with projects, continuing the momentum the workshops created.