May 7, 2025 • 8 mins
Allen County Auditor Rachael Gilroy, who also serves as the Administrator of the Allen County Land Bank, joined Todd Walker to discuss the progress being made on the demolition of the former Macy's at the Lima Mall.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
And what's it being Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (00:01):
At this time period, we focus on Allen County and
Allen County Auditor Rachel Gilroy is here this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Rachel, good morning, Good morning, Todd. Good to see you again.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And of course, one part of your duty is also
administering the Allen County Land Bank. And right now we
have a high profile demolition going on that's also somewhat
of a tourist attraction, the Macy's Lazarus demo. Now, let's
set the record straight here for the bricks that people
(00:32):
apparently are coveting, the blue bricks. First of all, it
should go without saying you cannot go in there, just
you know, for the hell of it, am I going
to get some bricks?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Don't do that.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Defense is for a reason it's a dangerous deconstruction site.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Secondly, the.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Idea of giving away the bricks or distributing any of
the paraphernalia in that building is now not really your decision,
right right.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It is the contractors and they asked what we thought
about it, and it's just people have so many feelings
and memories attached to that building. So if it makes
folks remember those fond memories, then sure you know, we'll
make sure that some bricks are out there and they
can have that piece of history to take with them.
But overall, I mean, it's a dangerous deconstruction site and
(01:24):
let's let the crews do their work.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So they are periodically taking a large load of those
bricks and taking them outside the demo site for people
to come and take them if they want, right.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And there have been hundreds of people that have bricks already.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Wow, it's just crazy. So there's no set time. They
do it.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
When when they have a specific section that falls and
the bricks look in good condition, often they'll scoop up
a load and take it just outside the fence and
then they're available first comfort serve for whoever wants them.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So they don't put out like a Facebook invite or anything, right,
they just do it.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
To be People seem to know though, so well.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
There's probably rotating scouts, right why I.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Think so folks are on the phone. You see them
on the phone right away. Oh there's bricks here, there's bricks.
And I was there yesterday actually when they dropped a
load and oh my gosh, people just came from everywhere
and filled up their vehicles with these bricks.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
That's funny, but.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
You know that's the haul away that way.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it does speak to the impact that something can
have on the community. You don't really think about it,
but there are I'm sure emotional attachments for people who
either worked there or shopped there, or their their their
mom worked there or something.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Like that, right, And if that eases the transition into
redevelopment and new regrowth for the area, then that's.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Okay to Also, you know, it does seem like it's
taking a long time. I mean, most demolitions are a
lot faster, right, what's going on with that?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
The demolitions we've always been involved with have been a
day or two days or a week or something. But
this is a very methodical, immense project, so being very
methodical as far as separating material and making sure they're
recycling what can be recycled and crushing what can be
crushed for phil later. They're very detailed in what they're doing.
(03:20):
And that mall structurally was built pretty well. It was
just that the inside of it was filled with the
asbestos and the dangerous substances. So it's taking a bit
to come down, but they're doing it in a very
safe manner.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
We're talking with the Rachel Gilroy Allen County Auditor also
the administrator of the Island County at land Bank. So
the Macy's project is progressing and then of course target
will go in there at some future date with the
land Bank. Now what else is either about to happen
that's a fairly high profile or what are you working on?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Well, today starts the remediation for Burkie Hall on the
campus Bluffin University, so that will be a big project
as well, that will take up a lot of the summer.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
So they're going to start remediation today.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Windows will be removed because of the glazing on them
as bestis, things like that, and then demolition will start
probably in about two to three weeks there also.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well that'll be a big help for those folks on
that campus, I guess. Other than that, are you sort
of in a.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Regathering period here.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Two more big projects still on the books. We have
the old jail demolition, the part that's connected to the courthouse,
the old part of the courthouse, so that will be
starting probably late summer early fall, so we have that
going on, and then the big draw will be again
be the TB Hospital so that is still on the
(04:49):
books for this year.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Again, all of this is with.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Brownfield money, an EPA grant funded by the state.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, your boy is going to get a tour of
the TB Hospital before you tear it down.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I've never been out there. I know a lot of
people have and don't go out there.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
No way, don't go out there.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
But special Inviter.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Todd, I'll have you talked to the owner.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Yeah, we'll have a chaperone there. You go, keep me
from me.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Yeah, it itself is a very dangerous site.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
And while it's private property, the folks that trespass back
there and have the potential for being killed. It's it'll
be nice to return this to a peaceful green space
and let that area heal.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, and that's a building that everybody's want to get
rid of for years.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Decades, and it has well over a million dollars of.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Just asbestos in that building.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And so there's no other way without a grant like this,
there's no other way that that demolition is going to happen.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So the owner is going.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
To match the grant with his cost to actually demolish
it and crush it. So you know, they have skin
in the game too, and they'll just be glad to
make a safe area again, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Let's talk about the website for the auditor's office. Rachel
Gilroy is with us, the Allen County Auditor. That would
be allencountyohauditor dot com. What kind of things can I
find there?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
There is so much information. Then we get phone calls
all the time, which is great. We of course are
there to serve the public in any way we can.
But if it's after hours or on the weekend, especially,
look up that website and go to the real estate
search area. It's very simple and just start to fill in.
If you even just know part of a last name
(06:33):
and you want to start typing that in, it will
populate names that start with what you've typed in. You
can type in addresses or nobody knows their personal number,
but if you know personal numbers, you could put that
in there. But then look at the information that's on there,
all about your property. It can talk about assessments and
taxes you've paid, which is not the favorite part, you know,
(06:53):
But there's a map feature on there that is extremely interesting,
you know, once you go to your part, so you'll
click map at the top and it'll show you your
whole area that you're looking at. You can click on
parcels highlighted next to you and find out their information,
or maybe you want to know who owns the field
a couple of doors down because you want to hunt
(07:15):
arrowheads or something. You know that there's just so much
information on the website that people don't even know about.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And obviously this is all publicly available information that used
to have to go to some office and rifle through
the papers.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Right now it's all online, and.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
It's aerial views.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
You know, we've been doing these flyovers and they're aerial
views to show you very in depth things.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
On those you can zero in and really hone in
on things.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
We also will have updated pictures very soon. I know
that's a popular request from folks. You know, my house's
picture is like ten years old. It needs a new
it needs a new updated photo. Will we're working on
that and we've heard you, and that'll be hopefully done
this summer.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Well, wrap it up.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
You guys are preparing to host a couple of young men,
is that right?
Speaker 4 (08:05):
We are we're exciting, I mean.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Personally, not the auditor's office.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
No, that is true.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
We are not putting beds in the Auditor's office, but no.
My husband and I will have two players this year,
so we're always looking forward to that these come out
of these two players come out of Florida, so that'll
be exciting and it's neat to cheer on players that
you know and have that connection with.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
We're talking about Lima Locos of course, Tyler Helton and
Carter Parks apparently, are you yes, that's what we hear.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Will be in contact with them soon.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Locos come to town June first to get ready for their
season opener shortly thereafter. Rachel, we'll see you out at
the Locos games, and we'll also appreciate your work with
the Landbank and the Auditor's Office.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Thanks, I appreciate thanks for having me
And what's it being Wednesday?
Speaker 2 (00:01):
At this time period, we focus on Allen County and
Allen County Auditor Rachel Gilroy is here this morning.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Rachel, good morning, Good morning, Todd. Good to see you again.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
And of course, one part of your duty is also
administering the Allen County Land Bank. And right now we
have a high profile demolition going on that's also somewhat
of a tourist attraction, the Macy's Lazarus demo. Now, let's
set the record straight here for the bricks that people
(00:32):
apparently are coveting, the blue bricks. First of all, it
should go without saying you cannot go in there, just
you know, for the hell of it, am I going
to get some bricks?
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Don't do that.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Defense is for a reason it's a dangerous deconstruction site.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Secondly, the.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Idea of giving away the bricks or distributing any of
the paraphernalia in that building is now not really your decision,
right right.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It is the contractors and they asked what we thought
about it, and it's just people have so many feelings
and memories attached to that building. So if it makes
folks remember those fond memories, then sure you know, we'll
make sure that some bricks are out there and they
can have that piece of history to take with them.
But overall, I mean, it's a dangerous deconstruction site and
(01:24):
let's let the crews do their work.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So they are periodically taking a large load of those
bricks and taking them outside the demo site for people
to come and take them if they want, right.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And there have been hundreds of people that have bricks already.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Wow, it's just crazy. So there's no set time. They
do it.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
When when they have a specific section that falls and
the bricks look in good condition, often they'll scoop up
a load and take it just outside the fence and
then they're available first comfort serve for whoever wants them.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
So they don't put out like a Facebook invite or anything, right,
they just do it.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
To be People seem to know though, so well.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
There's probably rotating scouts, right why I.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Think so folks are on the phone. You see them
on the phone right away. Oh there's bricks here, there's bricks.
And I was there yesterday actually when they dropped a
load and oh my gosh, people just came from everywhere
and filled up their vehicles with these bricks.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
That's funny, but.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
You know that's the haul away that way.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yeah, it does speak to the impact that something can
have on the community. You don't really think about it,
but there are I'm sure emotional attachments for people who
either worked there or shopped there, or their their their
mom worked there or something.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Like that, right, And if that eases the transition into
redevelopment and new regrowth for the area, then that's.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Okay to Also, you know, it does seem like it's
taking a long time. I mean, most demolitions are a
lot faster, right, what's going on with that?
Speaker 3 (02:55):
The demolitions we've always been involved with have been a
day or two days or a week or something. But
this is a very methodical, immense project, so being very
methodical as far as separating material and making sure they're
recycling what can be recycled and crushing what can be
crushed for phil later. They're very detailed in what they're doing.
(03:20):
And that mall structurally was built pretty well. It was
just that the inside of it was filled with the
asbestos and the dangerous substances. So it's taking a bit
to come down, but they're doing it in a very
safe manner.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
We're talking with the Rachel Gilroy Allen County Auditor also
the administrator of the Island County at land Bank. So
the Macy's project is progressing and then of course target
will go in there at some future date with the
land Bank. Now what else is either about to happen
that's a fairly high profile or what are you working on?
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Well, today starts the remediation for Burkie Hall on the
campus Bluffin University, so that will be a big project
as well, that will take up a lot of the summer.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
So they're going to start remediation today.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Windows will be removed because of the glazing on them
as bestis, things like that, and then demolition will start
probably in about two to three weeks there also.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Well that'll be a big help for those folks on
that campus, I guess. Other than that, are you sort
of in a.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Regathering period here.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Two more big projects still on the books. We have
the old jail demolition, the part that's connected to the courthouse,
the old part of the courthouse, so that will be
starting probably late summer early fall, so we have that
going on, and then the big draw will be again
be the TB Hospital so that is still on the
(04:49):
books for this year.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Again, all of this is with.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Brownfield money, an EPA grant funded by the state.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, your boy is going to get a tour of
the TB Hospital before you tear it down.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I've never been out there. I know a lot of
people have and don't go out there.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
No way, don't go out there.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
But special Inviter.
Speaker 4 (05:07):
Todd, I'll have you talked to the owner.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Yeah, we'll have a chaperone there. You go, keep me
from me.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Yeah, it itself is a very dangerous site.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
And while it's private property, the folks that trespass back
there and have the potential for being killed. It's it'll
be nice to return this to a peaceful green space
and let that area heal.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, and that's a building that everybody's want to get
rid of for years.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Decades, and it has well over a million dollars of.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Just asbestos in that building.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And so there's no other way without a grant like this,
there's no other way that that demolition is going to happen.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So the owner is going.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
To match the grant with his cost to actually demolish
it and crush it. So you know, they have skin
in the game too, and they'll just be glad to
make a safe area again, no doubt.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
Let's talk about the website for the auditor's office. Rachel
Gilroy is with us, the Allen County Auditor. That would
be allencountyohauditor dot com. What kind of things can I
find there?
Speaker 3 (06:13):
There is so much information. Then we get phone calls
all the time, which is great. We of course are
there to serve the public in any way we can.
But if it's after hours or on the weekend, especially,
look up that website and go to the real estate
search area. It's very simple and just start to fill in.
If you even just know part of a last name
(06:33):
and you want to start typing that in, it will
populate names that start with what you've typed in. You
can type in addresses or nobody knows their personal number,
but if you know personal numbers, you could put that
in there. But then look at the information that's on there,
all about your property. It can talk about assessments and
taxes you've paid, which is not the favorite part, you know,
(06:53):
But there's a map feature on there that is extremely interesting,
you know, once you go to your part, so you'll
click map at the top and it'll show you your
whole area that you're looking at. You can click on
parcels highlighted next to you and find out their information,
or maybe you want to know who owns the field
a couple of doors down because you want to hunt
(07:15):
arrowheads or something. You know that there's just so much
information on the website that people don't even know about.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And obviously this is all publicly available information that used
to have to go to some office and rifle through
the papers.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Right now it's all online, and.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
It's aerial views.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
You know, we've been doing these flyovers and they're aerial
views to show you very in depth things.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
On those you can zero in and really hone in
on things.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
We also will have updated pictures very soon. I know
that's a popular request from folks. You know, my house's
picture is like ten years old. It needs a new
it needs a new updated photo. Will we're working on
that and we've heard you, and that'll be hopefully done
this summer.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
Well, wrap it up.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
You guys are preparing to host a couple of young men,
is that right?
Speaker 4 (08:05):
We are we're exciting, I mean.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Personally, not the auditor's office.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
No, that is true.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
We are not putting beds in the Auditor's office, but no.
My husband and I will have two players this year,
so we're always looking forward to that these come out
of these two players come out of Florida, so that'll
be exciting and it's neat to cheer on players that
you know and have that connection with.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
We're talking about Lima Locos of course, Tyler Helton and
Carter Parks apparently, are you yes, that's what we hear.
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Will be in contact with them soon.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Locos come to town June first to get ready for their
season opener shortly thereafter. Rachel, we'll see you out at
the Locos games, and we'll also appreciate your work with
the Landbank and the Auditor's Office.
Speaker 4 (08:47):
Thanks, I appreciate thanks for having me
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