Work crews from Tony Smith Wrecking Co. in Springfield were busy tearing down the empty structure Tuesday, and project manager Aaron Bush said the work will likely be completed by Friday.
Roberds went out of business in 2000, and closed all of its Miami Valley locations, including the Springfield Twp. business on East Main Street. Since then, it has also served as a flea market and a mattress store.
Some local officials said they were surprised the building was being torn down this week, but said the owners have been cooperative.
“I don’t know why they decided to raze it so quickly but I know they’ve been looking at other options,” said Jeff Briner, Springfield Twp. administrator.
In recent years, Briner said the 66,000-square-foot building has become a target for graffiti and has had issues with trash at the site, although the owners have been responsive to resolve those issues quickly.
Springfield News-Sun readers nominated the site as one of the county’s top five eyesores for an investigative story in 2012.
The site has a lot of potential for another business, Briner said. The township hasn’t received any plans for re-use of the site.
“Hopefully that will open up the property to be sold or developed by either the Wrights or somebody else,” Briner said. “I think it’s a good location. It’s got good access and hopefully we can get another viable property in there.”
Records from the Clark County Auditor’s Office show the property and building combined were valued at about $1.6 million in 2011, but that dropped to about $743,000 after a board of revision hearing the following year. The site’s value dropped again to $475,600 after a revaluation in 2013.
The building was originally constructed in 1966.
The cleared site could be a prime location for re-use, Clark County Commissioner John Detrick said.
“It’s a good potential site,” Detrick said. “It has sewer and water.”
The building will be torn down but the foundation will stay in place. Wright Realty has been in contact with the wrecking company and has wanted to tear down the structure for the last few years but was only recently able to do so, Bush said.
“I’m glad to see it get cleaned up honestly,” Briner said.
About the Author