The view from HDS this morning:

I have been following this in the news since The Cow posted this and the link below is a small update from a meeting held yesterday with the people involved.

http://www.auroraadvocate.com/news%20local/2014/04/02/village-begins-healing-aft...

It is nice to see that others are offering help and support!

The Cow wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2014 at 9:25pm:


Wow, its nice to know that HDS and its staff is not only part of their community, but also helping to lead it.

If there is anything that we users can do to help please put out the word.


The Cow wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2014 at 9:25pm:


This camera is very cool. Being able to control the view allows us to feel like we are actually standing in the building across the street.

Thanks for making it accessible to us. 

Did you move/adjust the camera to a different spot in the window? We lost the ability to see left of the remaining middle structure.

It is interesting that there was destruction on the left and the right of that middle structure, but that structure remains standing, was it the only part that was mostly brick? The burned down structure looked to almost be all wood.

Reading the news it looks like the Fire inspectors have closed the investigation and have not been able to identify the cause of the fire. Their was speculation that roof work was the culprit, however the fire department could not confirm that to be the cause.

What are you all hearing on the streets? What do you locals believe?

Have you heard if the thought is to rebuild as it was or to modify the look of the structure?

It would be kind of nice if the building section that is still standing became an entry way to the new building and it could house images of the original history of the buildings and document with pictures, the fire, the coming together of the community  and the rebuilding process.

It seems to be moving very slow in removing the debris and cleaning up. Is it due to anything besides a shortage of time and money?

Are people still trying to go through the area prior to clean-up or something?

The Cow wrote on Apr 8^th, 2014 at 6:40pm:

Too funny.
I have to admit I had to try it once I read this.

Clean-up looks like it is going nicely, I can't wait to start watching the Re-construction.

Any information on the streets, if the plan is to rebuild as it was or build it differently?

With all the debris almost cleaned up, it is really nice to see all those trees with the purple/pink leaves. The beauty of those trees in the background of the destruction is really something.

Mother Nature is an amazing Lady!
 

It is very strange to just glance out the window and see trees where there used to just be windows and siding.

-Ray

BOBSCOTT wrote on Jun 5^th, 2014 at 3:14pm:


No - and regret that we didn't. We should start so we can get a time-lapse of the rebuild.

Nope. Right in the middle of all this disruption, the state decided they needed to repave the street running right through the center of town. The local businesses, already hurt for parking, are very concerned.

Just rain, although to say that it was raining is a bit of an understatement for how much water came outta the sky the other night.

-Ray

We are giving it a brief rest. Erika needed the tripod and we haven't gotten around to restoring it.

In related news:

The fence is down.

The dilapidated mill (just off camera) has been partially demolished and the remaining portion is going to be restored.

We are getting even more pizza in this town. Our sixth or seventh pizza restaurant is being built near the theater.

That is a great read. Thanks for posting it.

When you consider the statistics given below, (as an outsider) I can really get the impact of the amount of resources and effort people put into fighting this fire.

"an estimated 1.5 million gallons of water was pumped, and 428.5 gallons of diesel fuel was used in the 50 hours and 36 minutes the fire department was present at the scene,"

This line from Jim the barber just really made my heart ache.
"I was just thinking this was never going to be the same; it's a sudden realization that everything is totally changed and you aren't ready for that change."

(I know people will deal with the financial blow, its the emotional destruction that just may never go away that I see as the worst part.)


As someone looking in from a distance the writer really made an impact with this line, that makes it crystal clear, this was so much more than just an old building, it was a rallying point for re-development of the downtown community.

"That note of surreal devastation struck not only business owners but the residents who watched Main Street spring to life through the passion and action of their neighbors and friends."

I hope that Maschek follows through with his intentions of rebuilding something special on the property. Please keep us posted.

Any comments from you all on the ground in Garrettsville  about Maschek's current renovation on the 19th-century mill?

Is that the mill that can be seen from the back window of Hammer Data?

Here is an aerial view of the affected blocks of Garrettsville. I have marked Hammer Data's building in red. The burnt down block is marked in blue. The old feed mill that has been recently renovated is marked in green.

Most of the old feed mill was already falling down and was demolished. The front portion was renovated. The "mill" right next door to Hammer's building hasn't actually been a mill in many decades. The original mill at that site burnt down (twice) and has been rebuilt to resemble a mill. It is now, and has long been, a restaurant.

Its election advertising for local politicians and issues.

Ben probably knows as much as anyone in the town. But, I don't think that any plans (known or unknown) have really gelled yet. Part of the problem is that the land is owned by several different parties and they are not necessarily in concert. Also, everyone concerned agrees that brick or stone would be a superior building material, rather than wood, and both are very expensive.

There has been some effort put into acquiring grants for reconstruction. But, because the land is privately owned (for profit), grants are hard to come by. I think they should all consider "loaning" the land to the city and Garrettsville should get state and federal grants to build a new city hall / fire station / police dept. on the land. Currently the city hall is a small ranch style house a couple of blocks away from the center of town.

The owner of most of the land is also a local builder, who has a great reputation for maintaining the historical look and feel with his projects. He also seems to be very engaged in the well being of the town. He may well do something great. He did a great job with the dilapidated feed mill across the street, which will soon be a coffee house. It looks great.