Demolition crews showed up Wednesday evening to take down part of the closed Fridrich Bicycle shop in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, only hours after a building violation order was posted online (NEOtrans). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Owner wasn’t notified of demo order
The easternmost building of the closed Fridrich Bicycle was suddenly demolished by a city-hired contractor Wednesday evening, only hours after the city posted a building violation notice. A crowd gathered on the sidewalk across the street from 3722 Lorain Ave. to watch the 143-year-old building come down in less than 90 minutes.
But neither the building owner, Charles Fridrich, or his attorney were notified by the city that the building was the subject of a city order to raze the structure. The rest of the former bicycle shop, much of which also dates to the 19th century, remains intact. The property was recently listed for sale.
In fact, when NEOtrans contacted Fridrich’s real estate agent Nick Reyes of Acclaimed Realty for comment and more information about the city’s notice issued today, it was the first time Fridrich, his attorney or Reyes had heard about the order. And after NEOtrans emailed it to them moments later, it was the first time they’d seen it.
The city’s building code violation notice issued today was in response to multiple citizen reports made in recent days via the city’s 311 “nuisance hotline.” But the text of that notice seemingly gave Fridrich the option of making repairs to the 19th-century bike shop to avoid an emergency demolition.
Demolition crews spray water to limit the dust coming from the demolition of the former Fridrich Bicycle shop on Lorain Avenue (NEOtrans).
“We would have wanted the option to make repairs to the building if we knew that they were going to demolish it,” Reyes said. The property is listed for sale at $2.9 million.
There were multiple complaints submitted to the city in the past week about bricks falling from the building. But that shouldn’t have come as a surprise as the city had closed the Lorain Avenue sidewalk days ago. Then an earthmover and dump truck showed up next to the building today.
Residents also began notifying NEOtrans today of the demolition equipment’s appearance. One of them noted that a brick wall recently began bowing outward, which is likely what triggered the emergency demolition.
City officials were unavailable late Wednesday for comment and more information. This is a developing story that NEOtrans will continue to follow.
END
