Officials warn Style Center at 418 Broadway is severely deteriorated; legal dispute stalls repairs

At the Oct. 14, 2025 meeting of the City of Lorraine Design Review Board, building and code officials reported severe structural degradation at the Style Center, 418 Broadway, and described legal obstacles to immediate repair or securing of the property.

The chair read a letter from the design committee of Main Street Lorraine dated Oct. 13, 2025, urging the city to "save at least the facade of the South Center Building" and to recreate the building in some form to support downtown economic development. The letter was entered into the record by the chair.

Andy, a building department official, described a recent inspection and follow-up work: "We verified the complaint via drone," he said, adding that the floor in the rear of the building is so degraded an inspector could nearly fall through. Andy told the board the department has been unable to safely access the back half of the building and said staff may pursue entry using an administrative search warrant if they cannot obtain right of entry from the land-contract holder.

Board members and staff described a land-contract dispute and attorneys representing the parties. One board member said the contract appears written to protect the seller and that attorneys for both sides are involved; another noted no legal filings to void the contract had yet been made by the buyer's attorney. Staff repeatedly cautioned that when attorneys engage, the process often becomes slow.

Officials discussed options including stabilizing or mothballing the building, partial removal of a compromised rear portion to preserve a safer front façade, and, as a last resort, demolition. Staff noted the up-front cost of stabilization and the city's limited ability to recover those costs through property taxes. The building department said demolition remains a possible outcome if the structure presents an imminent hazard and legal access cannot be gained.

Separately, staff reported proactive enforcement work on vacant commercial properties across the corridor: notices were sent to roughly 100 property owners along Broadway and East 28th; some owners have begun repairs and a small number of parcels recently sold to buyers with redevelopment plans. Staff said they expect to return to city council with amendments to the ordinance that governs vacant commercial property enforcement to address insurance and surety language.

No formal board action was taken on the Style Center at this meeting; the board recorded the condition, the legal uncertainty, and Main Street Lorraine’s recommendation and left further legal steps to the building department and the city’s legal counsel.