PLYMOUTH — The large brick building formerly known as the Plymouth Hotel will soon be demolished by the Richland County Land Bank.
At a regular meeting Wednesday, the Land Bank board formally approved an agreement with the Village of Plymouth to act as its agent ordering the demolition.
“I am grateful to the Land Bank for helping to facilitate a speedy and safe demolition of a building that has been a dangerous eyesore to our village for many years,” Plymouth mayor Cassandra Fryman said.
The Land Bank discussed taking ownership of the property earlier this year, but shied away from acquiring it after the building began to collapse last month.
The Plymouth Hotel’s state of disrepair worsened in May after a man crashed a stolen car into the front of the building. The driver later passed away.
On July 30, the back of the building collapsed, forcing the village to close a portion of Ohio 603. The roofline and building are also bulging out in the front, Hamrick said at Wednesday’s board meeting. A shared wall with the adjoining building further complicates the demolition process.
The Land Bank board is in negotiations with the two owners of the building to work out the demolition contract, including how the demolition will be funded.
Kelly McCoy, whose LLC owns a portion of the first floor, has been renovating her section of the property in order to open a bar and grill. According to the Richland County Auditor’s website, McCoy’s property extends into the adjoining building.
McCoy and her legal representative, Brian Donnamiller, attended Wednesday’s meeting and requested that McCoy not be held liable if the demolition results in damage to her property.
“We want to work with the board and figure something out. We just don’t want to lose all the money she’s invested,” Donnamiller said.
McCoy and her legal counsel declined an interview, but the bar’s Facebook page documents renovations dating back to March 2018.
Hamrick said the Land Bank and its contractors will do whatever they can prevent the bar from being damaged during the demolition.
“We’re going to do our best. I can’t make any promises,” she said. “These are over 100-year-old buildings.”
