Schine’s Theater might be down in 2 weeks

BUCYRUS – The old Schine’s Theater in downtown Bucyrus likely will be brought to the ground in about two weeks.

During a very brief Thursday afternoon meeting of the Bucyrus Board of Control, a contract was awarded for the demolition of the condemned building, to Moderalli Excavating, of Poland, Ohio, near Youngstown, for $396,200.

The city had estimated the project would cost $400,000.

Moderalli will be conducting a “hot” demolition, meaning the entire structure will be taken down as if it’s all contaminated with asbestos. Eunice Collene, administrative assistant to the mayor and city service safety director, said the carcinogenic material is so widespread in the building, primarily contained within acoustic panels, that to remove the asbestos before beginning demolition would’ve been prohibitively expensive.

She said July 16 is the tentative date for demolition to begin, although that could change.

The city still is working out the final details of a grant agreement with the state to help pay for the demolition, but Collene said those should be ironed out by Monday.

“Once we have that in hand and we sign it, we’re going,” she said.

Collene said Modarelli Excavating has been reviewed by the Ohio Regional Development Corporation. H&H Environmental of Tiffin will perform asbestos work as a subcontractor.

A pre-demolition meeting tentatively has been scheduled for July 13, followed by the demolition three days later. Moderalli is required to give the Ohio EPA 10 days’ notice of the work, and a power supply at the back of the building still has to be removed.

More significantly, East Walnut Street and South Sandusky Avenue will be closed during the demolition. Fire trucks will be needed to keep the structure wet to prevent asbestos from escaping.

Collene said the city is considering having an auction to get rid of memorabilia and items of potential historical significance, such as old film reels and assorted art deco furnishings.

“There wasn’t much,” city service-safety director Jeff Wagner said.

The theater, which was built in 1936 at the corner of South Sandusky Avenue and East Warren Street, has been closed since a fire broke out in the front of the structure in 1991. After that, steady deterioration set in. A concerted effort to raise $3 million to restore the Schine’s to its former glory was begun in 2008, but by 2013 the dream was dead as the deterioration advanced.

The latest plans for the site call for the construction of an open-air park suitable for a variety of arts events. Collene said work should begin on the project this fall.

thill3@gannett.com

419-563-9225

Twitter: @ToddHillMNJ