Akron nonprofit cleans up vacant lot after fire tragedy

Cathy Jacobs brought landscaping equipment and volunteers from her organization, New Beginnings of Akron, to clear the overgrown property at 7th Avenue in Akron this week. The group removed brush and debris from the vacant lot, responding to a call for help from neighbors who have watched the site deteriorate since August 2022.

Alphonso Thompkins, a neighbor who spoke to News 5 Cleveland in August, said the cleanup provides immediate relief after years of complaints about the house. Thompkins stated that the vegetation has been cut down and the area looks much better than before the intervention. He expressed satisfaction that a local group finally addressed the visual blight in the neighborhood.

Jacobs saw the August report about the frustrated residents and decided her organization should take action. She said it was important to do something tangible to help the community. Jacobs brought in resources from New Beginnings of Akron to handle the physical cleanup of the site.

The property holds personal significance for Jacobs, who lived at the address for 25 years before selling it to the current owner. She and her husband raised their sons in the house, which she described as a community house. Her connection to the location motivated her to ensure the land was not left neglected.

The house had been vacant following a fire four years ago that killed two young children who were left home alone. Neighbors previously urged authorities to demolish the structure, but the process took time to reach the current stage. The cleanup was the first visible step in stabilizing the site before the next phase of development.

Tia Lentini, a Realtor with Real of Ohio, said the demolition of the house is approved and currently in progress. No specific date has been set for the destruction of the remaining structure. Lentini stated that the property will be listed for sale within days.

Lentini indicated that the site could serve as a location for a new single-family home or multi-family housing. She noted that the space offers potential for a new family or a developer to build something new on the lot.