BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — Across Butler County, nearly three dozen demolition projects on blighted, vacant properties have already begun or will soon begin after the Land Bank accepted a nearly $1.27 million state grant.

Among the properties to be leveled was the old Linden Lanes bowling alley on Williams Avenue, where workers continued work Wednesday.

Alisha Cress’s backyard borders the property, which is now covered with broken rocks, twisted metal and heavy machinery, and she said she used to play bowling there as a child.

“It’s sad, but it had to happen,” Cress said.

She said while the building was vacant, there were regular break-ins by homeless people and people looking for a place to do drug use.

“I have young children, and drug use was really bad back then,” Cress said.

The land bank’s estimated demolition costs for the old bowling alley were $150,000.

The cost of demolishing the old Mango’s Tropical Oasis building, which was damaged by fire on Dixie Highway in Fairfield, is estimated at around $300,000.

It is on the list alongside properties between 4646-4696 Dixie Hwy, 12 vacant and blighted properties in Middletown, two vacant homes in Oxford, four in Trenton and one in Pyramid Hill.

“By removing blight as quickly as possible, we can save a neighborhood from the brink of ruin and return it to productive use,” said Michael McNamara, chairman of the Butler County Land Bank.

McNamara said the demolitions would not only increase property values ​​but could also eliminate looming public safety threats.

He said the fire at the vacant Beckett Paper Company building in Hamilton was an example of the danger posed by old buildings that have fallen into disrepair.

“That is why the affected properties must be addressed quickly so that they do not become a danger,” he said.

The schedule for completion of the individual projects was unclear.