The old Carter Lumber building on Miller Street has gone from eyesore to outright hazard in Ashland, with bricks, broken framing and insulation now turning up in nearby yards and businesses after a partial collapse this winter. The city’s fire inspector has labeled the site a public-health emergency, and Mayor Matt Miller told council the gutted structure is “a disaster.” Neighbors say windstorms have been strong enough to carry debris over fences and into a nearby concrete yard, where workers report at least one company vehicle has been damaged.
Partial Collapse and the Backstory
As reported by Ashland Source, firefighters were called out in late January after heavy snow caused part of the old lumberyard building at 610 Miller St. to cave in. Since then, the remaining shell has sat open to the elements. City engineering staff have talked through potential demolition and other fixes, but officials say the building’s size and the steep price tag for tearing it down have made any rapid solution tough to pull off…..