FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2016
Contact: Mayor Holly Brinda
City of Elyria
440-326-1402
Jim Rokakis
Western Reserve Land Conservancy
216- 515-8300
Paul Boehnlein
Western Reserve Land Conservancy
440-528-4173
Citywide property survey set
to begin in Elyria
Elyria is ready to launch a survey of all of the city’s nearly 23,000
parcels – and the buildings associated with them – to provide officials with an
updated snapshot of the condition of these properties.
The citywide survey, which is expected to start in early May and run through
June, is being conducted by the nonprofit Western Reserve Land Conservancy. The
Land Conservancy has completed citywide property surveys in Akron, Cleveland, East
Cleveland, Lorain, Oberlin and Sandusky.
The survey is being funded by the Nord Family Foundation, the Bettcher
Foundation, United Way of Greater Lorain County, the Nordson Corporation and
PNC Bank.
Paul Boehnlein, director of GIS for the Land Conservancy, said surveyors
– staffed through a partnership with United Way of Lorain County and Oberlin
Community Services – will work in teams of two and gather information while on
sidewalks and public rights-of-way.
Information about each parcel – including whether it is vacant, the
condition of any structures on it and a photo – is recorded on a tablet
computer. The survey will provide Elyria with information that can be used to
prioritize what structures should be rehabilitated or demolished with available
funds and to determine any need for additional demolition funding.
“We have conducted these surveys in a number of Ohio communities but
are excited to be doing this work in Elyria,” said Jim Rokakis, a Land
Conservancy vice president and director of Thriving Communities Institute.
“This survey is a valuable tool and will give the city of Elyria a more
accurate picture of its housing and building stock. This information will
help to guide decision makers as they determine how to allocate their
demolition resources.”
Surveyors will wear bright orange T-shirts with the Land Conservancy
name and logo plus the words ELYRIA PROPERTY SURVEY in large letters.
Western Reserve Land Conservancy provides the people of our region with
essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration. The Land
Conservancy has preserved natural areas and working farms in 17 counties in
northern and eastern Ohio; its urban program, Thriving Communities, works
statewide to clean and green urban centers devastated by the foreclosure
crisis. To date, the Land Conservancy has permanently preserved more than 610
properties and more than 46,000 acres; led the efforts to create 30 county land
banks across Ohio; and planted more than 1,800 trees in the city of Cleveland.
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