Akron Approves $312,770 to Demolish 11 Properties
Owners of the condemned sites will see demolition costs added to their property taxes once the buildings are removed.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Commercial
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Akron City Council approved two contracts totaling $312,770 to demolish 11 condemned commercial properties across several neighborhoods. Demolition dates for the sites have not yet been set, and the costs will be added to the property taxes for each site.
Why it matters
The buildings were individually condemned as a serious hazard to community health and safety, and their owners failed to comply with the city's codes for vacant commercial and industrial buildings. For nearby homeowners and neighborhood residents in Akron, removing long-vacant structures addresses local safety concerns, while owners of the sites face added tax bills for the demolition work.
The two contracts cover 11 commercial properties spread across five neighborhoods, including West Akron, Sherbondy Hill and Kenmore. Individual sites include 332 Trigonia Dr., a .41-acre property, and a 1,080-square-foot former Church's Chicken building.
The players
Akron City Council
The elected legislative body of Akron that approved the two demolition contracts totaling $312,770.
Ray Bertolini Trucking Co.
The trucking and demolition contractor awarded the $213,050 contract to take down five of the condemned properties.
Butcher & Son Excavating
The excavation firm awarded the $99,720 contract to demolish six of the condemned properties.
Vacant Commercial or Industrial Building Appeals Board
The city board that reviewed and approved the demolition of each condemned building over several years.
The details
The city approved demolition contracts with two companies to take down the 11 properties after each building was individually condemned at various meetings of the Vacant Commercial or Industrial Building Appeals Board over several years. Once the structures are removed, demolition costs are added to the property taxes for the sites. The plots of land remain the property of their owners after demolition, so the removals do not transfer ownership to the city.
Timeline
June 2022: 348 Cole Ave. approved for demolition.
2023: 332 Trigonia Dr. and 409/411 W. Thornton St. approved for demolition.
April 5, 2024: Rubber City Lounge LLC purchased 558 and 560 Vernon Odom Blvd.
July 2024: 1097 Bellows St. approved for demolition.
November 2025: 1030 and 1032 Kenmore Blvd. approved for demolition.
The Home Front
The approvals fit the city's ongoing enforcement of its vacant commercial and industrial building codes, which apply when owners do not maintain minimum safety standards. Demolition leaves the land with its owners, so the cost shifts to property taxes rather than to a public land sale.
If you own or live near a vacant commercial parcel in Akron, check whether it appears on the city's condemned or demolition list. Owners of the affected sites should expect demolition costs to be added to their property taxes once the work is finished.
The takeaway
Demolition under Akron's vacant-building codes can leave a parcel's owner with a property tax bill even though the building is gone. Keep records of any condemnation notices and demolition assessments tied to your property.
Further reading
For more on the market for properties like these, see Commercial real estate coverage in Akron.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Signal Akron.
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