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Siding removal sparks more controversy/County Historical Society attorney says covering was coming off anyway By DARCIE LORENOT-G Staff Writer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------After workers began tearing down aluminum siding on the A.N. Myers home Tuesday, the Ashland County Historical Society was served a temporary restraining order.Attorney John Good, representing Center Street Historic District Association members and who requested the order, was worried the society was beginning demolition. The society's attorney said Wednesday it all came down to the price of aluminum, and the fact the siding will have to come down one way or another. "The siding is going to have to come off whether the building is renovated or demolished," said the society's attorney, Ronald Forsthoefel. "Prices (for aluminum) are high so (the society) thought they'd take advantage of that."But Good said the work shows an obvious intent."It should show the whole community the historical society never had any intention of saving that house," Good said. "If they cared about that house, they wouldn't be stripping the siding off in December."The restraining order is the latest volley in a controversy among the society, the association and Center Street residents after the society in July applied for and was denied by the Historic Preservation Board permission to demolish the home and build a new one.Since, the association and its members have filed a complaint requesting a demolition permit issued by the city be declared void and for a permanent injunction barring the home's demolition. According to Good, a crew began tearing siding off the 408 Center St. home - which revealed windows and older siding underneath - and disconnected power lines Tuesday morning. He then filed an emergency request for a temporary restraining order, which was granted by Wayne County Judge Mark Wiest, who will likely hear the case. Common Pleas Judge Deborah Woodward previously recused herself due to society membership.The restraining order instructs the society not to further damage, materially alter or destroy the home. The society Oct. 3 was granted by the city its demolition permit. Permits expire after 90 days. The association's complaint was filed last week after an original complaint was voluntarily dismissed. Six association members were added as plaintiffs: Rodney Mohr, association president; Anne and Severn Green; Beth Anne Buchanan and her husband and former preservation board member, James; and Kyle Von Kamp, association secretary.The complaint names both the society and the city and alleges the only entity that could approve the demolition permit is the preservation board.As far as whether the siding removal was the beginning of demolition, Forsthoefel repeated it would have been removed eventually."They were taking the aluminum siding off because prices were high for recycling the material," he said. "Either way, it needed to come off."
Some of the aluminum siding was removed Tuesday from the A.N. Myers house on Center Street.
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