ELYRIA — Two Elyria streets will receive some much-needed attention in the coming weeks as a part of WEWS-TV’s News Channel 5’s Building Better Neighborhoods program, which uses volunteers to improve select Northeast Ohio neighborhoods.
Volunteers will work 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 28 on Gates Avenue and South Maple Street, making much-needed home repairs and revitalizing the 5th Ward streets with landscaping, trash pickup and general beautification chores at private residences.
Both streets are a mix of owner-occupied homes and vacant, abandoned homes that are riddled with building code violations.
“We are doing this to help neighborhoods where homeowners have code violations they want to correct but are having trouble meeting compliance needs,” Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda said. “The Elyria community is coming together to help their residents.”
Councilman Marcus Madison, D-5th Ward, said the main crux of the project is to promote a safe and clean community, which has been important to him since taking office.
“This community-building project is a continuation of a long-term commitment to help residents, get people involved and make our community look nice,” he said. “By working together, we can build a stronger neighborhood and make sure that years from now our children and grandchildren will call this community home.”
Brinda said 21 property owners on both streets have signed up in advance to receive minor repairs at their homes. All repairs are done at no cost to the homeowner by volunteers as well as the Building Industries Association of Lorain County, Church of the Open Door, 100 Black Men of Lorain County and the Boys and Girls Club, which will build a community garden at a city-owned site near the Middle Avenue facility.
Area businesses are being asked to support the cause by providing work gloves and/or refreshments on the day of the cleanup and rebuild.
According to station general manager Sam Rosenwasser, the Building Better Neighborhoods project was developed to help improve living conditions in the immediate region.
“With an estimated 30,000-plus vacant and condemned homes in Northeast Ohio, we believe a serious and intentional plan is necessary to improve our neighborhoods,” Rosenwasser said in a statement. “Some of these homes have been standing idle for years, due in part to inefficient government and a severe lack of funding for demolition and renovation.”
Brinda said more volunteers are still needed to make the day a success. The hope is to have 60 to 80 people come out over the course of the day.
Want to help?
A volunteer information day is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at South Park Recreation Center, 215 16th St. For more information, call the mayor’s office at (440) 326-1402.
Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.
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