Sylvania bolsters its demolition guideline

Historical buildings in Sylvania will receive more protection under an ordinance approved by city council last night.

A demolition permit may not be issued for any building constructed 50 years prior to a request for the permit without first posting a sign for 30 days in front of the building.

Also included in the ordinance is a requirement that the owner of such a building must allow the Sylvania Historical Society or a similar organization access so it can "map, photograph, measure, and otherwise preserve," the history of the structure.

Dr. Paul Roebke, who owns an office in the 5300 block of West Alexis Road, told council that the ordinance might present undue problems for him and others when they attempt to sell property.

Councilwoman Barbara Sears suggested that Dr. Roebke apply now for a demolition permit. She acknowledged that it would likely expire by the time he decides to sell his building, but that it could be used as a record that there had been a determination there is no historical or architectural significance to the property.

The ordinance was written after officials of St. Joseph Catholic Church obtained a demolition permit to raze a house built in the 1800s across from the church on Main Street.

The Sylvania Historical Society and others led a campaign to save the structure, said to have been a stop on the underground railroad used by runaway slaves on their way to Canada. Church officials have agreed to postpone demolition for an undetermined amount of time to give preservationists time to raise funds to move the building.

A historian has been hired to survey the city to determine what properties have historical value.

Mayor Craig Stough said the results of that survey should be useful to Dr. Roebke and others who own older property. The mayor said that if no historical significance is found through the survey, obtaining a demolition permit should not pose a problem.