Lakewood to Demolish Hilliard Square Theater

The Lakewood City Council passed a resolution this week allowing Mayor Michael Summers to use up to $1 million to demolish the decayed Hilliard Square Theater.

The demolition process will begin in June with asbestos abatement. The removal of the extensive amounts of asbestos will cost an estimated $500,000 and will take four or five months. Once completed, the building would be demolished in the fall for about $400,000.

"There was really no way around this outcome," President of Council Sam O'Leary told Patch.

The theater – built in 1927 – is located near Hilliard Road and Madison Avenue and has been shuttered for over 25 years.

"This is definitely a step forward for Lakewood, for that neighborhood," Sam O'Leary said. "This building has been a trouble spot for a long time – decades – and so this is in some ways a sad ending, but it's also an exciting new chapter for that neighborhood."

In 2014, the city not only removed the overhanging marquee in fear it would fall, but also fenced off the sidewalk near the theater.

"The city has previously taken some corrective actions to try and remedy those as best we can, and now we're at the point of needing to make sure the entire structure doesn’t pose a threat," O'Leary said. "Neighbors and residents should feel safe and secure knowing that the city is acting to address this issue and all of the work will be done in a way that protects their safety," O'Leary said.

In 2013, notices were issued for electrical, plumbing, plaster and debris problems, according to Cleveland.com. Lakewood received a $200,000 demolition grant from Cuyahoga County last year and have been trying to purchase the property from owner Robert Dobush in order to receive a county brownfields grant.