The old Carter Lumber building on Miller Street has gone from eyesore to outright hazard in Ashland, with bricks, broken framing and insulation now turning up in nearby yards and businesses after a partial collapse this winter. The city's fire inspector has labeled the site a public-health emergency, and Mayor Matt Miller told council the gutted structure is "a disaster." Neighbors say windstorms have been strong enough to carry debris over fences and into a nearby concrete yard, where workers report at least one company vehicle has been damaged.
Partial Collapse and the Backstory
As reported by Ashland Source, firefighters were called out in late January after heavy snow caused part of the old lumberyard building at 610 Miller St. to cave in. Since then, the remaining shell has sat open to the elements. City engineering staff have talked through potential demolition and other fixes, but officials say the building's size and the steep price tag for tearing it down have made any rapid solution tough to pull off.
City Moves to Hire a Contractor
City leaders told News 5 Cleveland that property records list Karedon, Inc. as the owner, with a mailing address in St. Petersburg, Florida, and note that the company has small but lingering delinquent tax bills. Council has signed off on an ordinance authorizing Mayor Matt Miller to bring in a contractor for up to $235,000 to clean up and remediate the site while city staff keep trying to get the owner on the phone.
Neighbors Say They're Done Waiting
Residents told News 5 Cleveland they have been sounding the alarm about the property for years, and that recent storms have cranked up the danger as bricks and insulation whip into nearby yards. "If I could pick up my home and move it, I would. But I can’t," said Ashley Gough, who lives down the street. Worker Dylan Chio added, "It just feels like it’s been left to ruins in the past few years," after at least one company vehicle was damaged.
Options and Costs
Ashland Source reports that the Ashland County Land Bank and the city have talked about using grant funding to cover demolition, in part because the parcel is so large and costly to clear. County Treasurer Angie McQuillen told the land bank that a foreclosure process is unlikely to provide a quick fix, and that grant-backed demolition with liens placed on the property afterward may be the more realistic route.
What Comes Next
City officials say they will keep trying to reach Karedon, Inc. while moving ahead with the remediation plan if those efforts go nowhere, and neighbors are pressing for the site to be cleared before summer to head off more damage and safety risks. With a $235,000 contractor authorization already on the books and complaints continuing to pile up, Ashland is staring at the familiar budget-versus-blight choice: spend now to shield residents or lean on a slower legal path that could stretch out for months.
