Dennison, Ohio - Village residents will see two more rundown homes torn down this fall.

Last week, Dennison Village Council approved the demolition of two former residences. One is at 701 Center St., and the other is at 217 N. Second St.

Dennison’s Zoning and Code Administrator, Dan Shaver, says both properties have been abandoned and have fallen into disrepair. 

“They’re just bad. They don’t want to take care of them, and we can’t just leave them around. We have to go through all the proceedings, and it takes time, but we’re going to take them down,” he explains.

The total cost for the two demolitions is just over $21,000 and includes $7,182 to tear down the house on Center Street and $13,902 to demolish the house and garage on North Second. Shaver says both demolitions will be paid for upfront by the village, and the cost will be assessed on the owners’ property taxes.

Shaver says residents can expect to see the two structures torn down sometime in October. He notes that the individuals who own the properties will retain their ownership following the demolition, however, the village may have an opportunity in the future to purchase the lots.

The two projects are part of an ongoing effort to clean up the village that has included the demolition of at least 20 structures in the last several years, according to Shaver. 

“We’re here for the people of Dennison, and we’re trying to clean up the town as much as possible,” he says. 

Of the properties where structures have already been demolished, several were later purchased by the village and put up for sale, according to Shaver. He says two of those properties have been purchased by the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity for new home constructions. One is on North Fifth Street and the other is on Grant Street.   

Shaver notes that the village is currently eyeing two additional properties for demolition. One is on Bank Street, and the other is on Center Street, directly next door to the other house on the Center Street that was approved last week for demolition. 

In related business, council also approved the purchase of a lot in the 600 block of North Second Street at a cost of $2,951. Shaver says that property will be put up for sale and sold to the highest bidder, with the minimum bid to be set at $3,000.

Stacey Carmany, Tusco TV