AKRON, Ohio — Demolition has begun at the site of the former Word Church and Akron Baptist Temple on Manchester Road.
Akron Mayor Shammas Mailk was joined by officials for a press conference to kick off the demolition of the historic building.
The following individuals spoke during the press conference:
- Akron Mayor Shammas Malik
- Ward 9 Councilmember Tina Boyes
- Executive Director of Summit County Landbank Patrick Bravo
- Acting Police Chief Brian Harding
- Fire Chief Joseph Natko
- Business Retention and Expansion Manager Brad Beckert
- Deputy Service Director Eufrancia Lash
- Executive Director of The Continuum of Care Mar-Quetta Boddie
“This has absolutely been a public safety issue. Our officers alone have responded over 200 times in the last year to this location for concerns in the community. We’re all well aware that blighted buildings like this really have a negative impact on communities. We’re really excited that today Kenmore is just going to become a little bit safer as demolition begins," said Akron Police Chief Harding
He said Akron police had two eight-person teams working together to clear the building to make sure there was nobody inside.
The full press conference can be watched below:
The demolition process is expected to take 90 days. Due to the safety issues of the structure, the public will not be allowed to have pieces from the building.
“It gets taken in trucks that are covered down to a Minerva dump site, which is an asbestos dump site. It’s all combined into one. We don’t have to remove it because it’s very dangerous right now to remove it in the areas that are there,” said Beckert.
Mayor Malik previously announced on Feb. 26 that the city had plans to introduce legislation to fund the emergency demolition of the former Word Church property on Manchester Road.
The multi-building site, which once housed the Akron Baptist Temple, has become "a serious public safety concern," according to Malik in a release.
“Over the past several years, fire has been out here over 25 times on fire-related incidents. The most recent one was on March 10, when there were some church pews that were ignited inside the building. On buildings like this, vacant buildings, we do not go in. We risk a lot to save a lot, and we risk a little to save a little. We would not be saving anything if we were to make an entry on a building like this during a building fire," said Akron Fire Chief Natko during the press conference.
Malik noted that Akron police and fire would do a full search of the property and secure the building and grounds in the week before the demolition.
“We know there are many blighted structures across our community, as evidenced by the recent fire off N. Howard Street,” Malik continued. “These conditions are unacceptable in any of our neighborhoods. The Word Church site moved to the top of the list due to its rapid deterioration and public safety concerns, but we are triaging our approach to all these buildings and will have more to share with the community in the months and years to come.”
Akron Baptist Temple sold its seven-building site to The Word Church in 2018 and has since rebranded itself as Connect Church. The Word Church put the property up for sale a year later.
3 News spoke to The Word Church's pastor R.A. Vernon after the press conference.
"I'm really at peace," The Word Church Pastor Dr. R.A. Vernon said of the demolition. "What's more important to me than anything is the safety of others. We're in total agreement."
3News asked the pastor about the mayor saying the city was going to be "aggressive" in getting repayment from the church for the emergency demolition.
"We're going to work with the city. We think once we sell the land, we'll be able to take care of that," Vernon answeredt. "We think it'll actually sell quicker without that big building being on it. Every person that wanted to purchase it, they wanted the land and not the building, so we think it's good for the city and for us."
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