TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – An abandoned warehouse on Elm Street in Toledo has been a problem for a Toledo community for decades.
Issues with the warehouse first began in 2009 when 20-year-old Cindy Sumner was found dead inside. Since then, the residents, adults and children of the neighborhood have occupied the warehouse, causing concern to the neighbors.
Neighbors have recently reported that children have been throwing large rocks from the abandoned building. According to neighbors, these kids are damaging tow trucks and parked cars at a towing business across the street.
Merle Ulch, owner of the Tow Trucking business, said the kids caused a lot of damage for which he had to foot the bill.
“I would say $4,000 about a month ago and four trucks this year is probably another two or $3,000. These are customer cars that we got here fixing,” Ulch said.
He believes this is a problem he shouldn’t have to deal with, as the city has said it will demolish the land for years.
“The building should have collapsed because several bodies have been found there in the past. And it’s hard to tell if there’s any more there, homeless people living there and all. There is no one who will enter that building, they are afraid, even the police were afraid to enter the building,” said Ulch.
Ulch said he has called the city and land bank numerous times, all to no avail.
“They referred us to call the mayor and you can’t get hold of the mayor. It’s an escape that’s all. The police come out here and tell him that there is nothing you can do, contact the mayor. So what is the police department for,” said Ulch.
Unlike many properties around town, this demolition is in the hands of the Land Bank and not the demolition department. David Mann, president and CEO of the Land Bank said environmental work to remove the asbestos is happening next week and the building is heading to the wrecking ball soon after that.
Ulch said the time has come. “It’s going to be a lot better because kids can’t go out there and hide and party inside the building instead of being at home with their parents who have to take care of them,” Ulch said.
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