A building that earned a spot in Lorain’s industrial history has become home to hazardous conditions, according to the Lorain Fire Department.
However, the owner of the former Lorain Products Corp. building at 1122 F St., said he hopes the structure can make a turnaround with a new tenant.
Lorain firefighters obtained a search warrant to inspect the building, which also is the former Emerson Network Power building, on Jan. 25, said fire Assistant Chief Christopher Radman.
The review was part of continuing efforts to log commercial structures for a comprehensive list known as the city’s vacant commercial property registry.
Conditions were rough inside, Radman said.
“I think it should be torn down,” he said.
However, in the last few years, city officials have hindered efforts to find a new tenant for the building, said Timothy Beidleman of building owner MaxMae Enterprises E4428 LLC.
“I really don’t know what to do at this point,” Beidleman said. “It’s become like a money pit.”
Based on published measurements, it appears the two-story building is about 116,000 square feet in size.
The Lorain Historical Society had its own description compiled for its inaugural Spotlight Exhibit, featuring the history of Lorain Products.
“Between 1941 and 1942, Lorain Products Corporation purchased an old toy factory building at 1122 F Street, remodeled it to suit their needs, and began to continue the design and manufacture of electrical power equipment for the communications industry,” according to the Historical Society records.
The Fire Department photographs from the Jan. 25 inspection showed broken glass and exposed wiring inside.
One picture showed a bird nest built atop an emergency light. There were numerous holes punched through interior drywall and glass.
“You just see a lack of maintenance and vandals getting in there pulling down whatever they can,” Radman said.
There were burned materials inside, according to the photos.
Fire Department records indicated youths set multiple small fires inside in April 2016 and a burst pipe at the building in February 2015.
The basement is filled with water nearly to its ceiling, according to Fire Department photos.
One picture showed what appeared to be wood pallet floating in the water.
The building apparently has an underground tunnel that runs under the railroad tracks nearby to structures on the other side of the tracks.
Radman recalled the underground space from his own experience working at the company years ago.
The Fire Department also received a report of water filling that tunnel, he said.
“It’s another one just not safe for the public,” Radman said.
It appeared the last inspected repairs were made in 2010, according to permits on file at the Lorain Department of Building, Housing and Planning.
Beidleman said he did not hear about the Fire Department’s desire to inspect the structure ahead of time.
If there were funds to complete the repairs, they would be done, he said.
Beidleman described several ideas for putting in offices for government projects or Lorain schools, along with resistance at City Hall for those concepts.
MaxMae Enterprises paid $50,000 for the building in a sale in August 2014, according to Lorain County Auditor’s Office records.
The company owes total taxes of $55,455, according to the auditor’s records, and Beidleman acknowledged the money owed.
“That’s also part of the financial burden, getting up to date on the taxes,” he said.
Beidleman said he has had talks with nonprofit clinics as potential future tenants.
“I’m not going to stop trying to do my best for the community,” he said. “It’s just in my blood.”
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