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Source: Getty / Getty

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio – The City of Garfield Heights is pursuing an idea to potentially solve two community problems at once by moving the city’s police department, jail and courts to a struggling shopping center.

Nearly a decade ago, Walmart left the City View Center and concerns about methane gas underground chased away customers and other stores. Garfield Heights Mayor Vic Collova says the location is safe and he has a plan to put his money where his mouth is.

“Everybody that’s an expert says there’s not a problem,” said Collova, talking about the City View Center, built on top of a landfill. “Of course, the people that aren’t experts tell us there are problems.”

After a new developer bought the land, Mayor Collova started talking to them about how City View needs tenants and the city jail, courts and Police Department all need a new home.

“The way the building was put together, the pipes were inside blocked walls so every time something goes wrong, it’s expensive to get it fixed,” said Collova.

Buckets in the hallway of the jail catch falling water just around the corner from stained or missing ceiling tiles while the whole building has unreliable heating.

Just the first few repairs would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for a building that’s about 60 years old.

“We’re throwing old money after good,” said Collova.

 

READ MORE: News5Cleveland.com

Article Courtesy of WEWS News 5 Cleveland

First Picture Courtesy of Clarence Williams and Getty Images

Second Picture Courtesy of Getty Images

Video Courtesy of YouTube and WEWS News 5 Cleveland

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