State fire officials have still not determined the cause of the fire that gutted part of the Kent mill nearly a year ago, as residents grow puzzled and concerned about the building’s upkeep.
Storms that whipped through Northeast Ohio in late August damaged many properties, including the long-vacant Star of the West structure, which was badly damaged in the Dec. 2, 2022, fire.
Kent Community Development Director Bridget Susel said the city notified The Tulips LLC, which owns the mill, about loose siding and reported that the repairs were completed on Oct. 5.
In September, the city also warned the owners to remove tall weeds growing by the mill’s front facade, a matter that was corrected within a few days, she said.
“All outstanding property maintenance concerns are currently addressed,” Susel said.
One Portager reader, seeking an update on the fire, said they noticed a smell of rotting grain permeating the area around the mill.
“The mill did not have grain in it for several years, and any of the mill equipment that may have had some traces of grain were removed in early 2022, before the fire occurred,” Susel said.
The Tulips’ sole manager is Badreeyeh Alhasawi, and its representative is Manouchehr Salehi, Alhasawi’s husband. The Tulips bought the mill in 2017, intending to transform it into residential units, Salehi said as he watched the fire in December.
Kent Fire Captain Jeff Tyler, who is working with the state fire marshal’s office to determine the cause of the fire, was unavailable for comment. The state has not yet determined a cause of the blaze.
Kent attorney Jason Whitacre, who represents The Tulips, did not return The Portager’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, work at The Tulips’ other Kent project, a six-story retail/residential building at 211 Franklin Ave., seems to be progressing slowly, if at all.
Susel said the owners reported in mid-September that windows for the upper floors were scheduled for delivery in eight to 10 weeks. Those should be in by the end of the year, with installation to follow, she said.
The Tulips is also compiling what Susel termed a “final contractor list” for required water, sewer, gas and electric connections outside the structure. Weather permitting, those jobs may be done this year, as well, she said.
Wendy DiAlesandro is a former Record Publishing Co. reporter and contributing writer for The Portager.