Historic Wyoming house razed

517 Oak Avenue

To the surprise of everyone, a vacant working-class cottage at 517 Oak Avenue (BIRD'S EYE) in Wyoming was recently razed.

Wyoming City Council was not aware of the pending demolition and did not get the chance to discuss options for saving a significant piece of the city's railroad suburb past.

The two-story frame house, built in 1875, had been offered for sale by the city since July for $1 to anyone who could move it off of the site.

Nothing from the structure was saved.

The city will use the parcel to expand its parking lot for the Safety Services Building and for the Wyoming Avenue business district, and to make improvements to Village Green Park.

The adjacent Encore Bistro & Bar, formerly Sturkey's, closed in November.

Rumors of an urban renewal plan for the immediate area have been circulating, but nothing has been released.

Previous reading on BC:
Deadline for Wyoming house extended (10/9/07)
Own a piece of Wyoming working-class history (7/23/07)