MANSFIELD — Cement Products, Inc., off of Ashland Road, has submitted a request to the city, asking for a portion of an unnamed alley from Park Avenue East to Ashland Road to be vacated.
The specific area is between lot numbers 12107 and 12108 and 12109.
“There’s really no thru-traffic that even uses (the alley),” said City Engineer Bob Bianchi. “Actually, a portion of the alley is not even there anymore.”
Cement Products has been able to obtain signatures of all those whose properties abut the alley in question.
“I don’t see any reason not to do this,” said Fourth Ward Councilman Butch Jefferson.
Legislation authorizing the alley vacation was discussed during a streets committee meeting on Tuesday night and will have its first reading at the next city council meeting June 20.
Also on Tuesday, council revisited a request submitted by 4 Life Investments regarding an unnamed alley between Vale Avenue and Springmill Street. The investment company is planning on converting the former Club Exclusive building on Springmill Street into a bar and grill, which sits right next to the alley.
Pauline Sutton is the only property owner, other than 4 Life Investments, whose property abuts the alley that would be vacated. She expressed safety concerns during a previous council meeting and has not given her signature of approval for the alley vacation.
Tim Oney, owner of Tim’s Auto Repair, said if the alley were to be closed off, that could cause more traffic on the alley that’s immediately adjacent to his auto repair shop on Springmill Street.
“If you close the alley on the other side of the bar, I’m the one getting all the traffic,” he said.
Fifth Ward Councilman Jason Lawrence wondered if that might not be such a bad problem to have, seeing that more traffic could be good for business.
“I got enough on Springmill,” Oney responded. “It’s all in the way they come down through there.
“Through the day, them two alleys are super highways.”
His parking lot is right off the alley, he said, adding that he doesn’t want his employees or customers to get hurt.
“I’ve been paying attention to what’s going on over there since this came before us and there is a lot of traffic on both of those alleys, and I think we should not vacate this alley just for this business,” said Sixth Ward Councilwoman Garnetta Pender. “I think we should just leave the alley like it is, and if he wants to open his business there, fine, but leave the traffic flow as it is.”
A woman who lives behind the bar said, “When Bowman was closed and then (Ohio) 39 was closed, it took 20 minutes to go one mile up Springmill.”
She worries that if the alley were to be closed, that would only create more traffic.
Jefferson thinks it’s premature to vacate the alley at this time.
“Who knows if the business is going to survive,” he said.
No decision was made on this piece of legislation, as Tuesday night was its second reading. The bill will have its third and final reading June 20.
