By Jim Newell
Review Editor
The Lake Orion Pet Centre caught fire Jan. 28 and the rubble on the corner of Anderson and Flint streets is a vivid reminder of the loss of a community mainstay.
Now, many people are wondering what the plans are for the building – and whether it will be demolished or rebuilt.
Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh, who is currently serving as interim village manager, said he has spoken with the owners and they have asked him to speak on their behalf regarding the rebuilding process.
Narsh said the structural engineers have reviewed the building and the owners have received the engineering and architectural report.
He added that the Pet Centre owners have contracted a local demolition service, but he could not speculate on a timeline for demolition.
“Every time they drive by it, it breaks their hearts to see it,” Narsh said. “They’re very anxious to get the process in place.”
Narsh said the owners want to rebuild, and that the building will likely have commercial space in the lower level and that the upper level would be residential. The owners are still exploring their options, he said.
“They’re doing the best they can to navigate the process,” Narsh said. “This is all new to them. Both owners are committed to rebuilding and want a vibrant business in the village.”
He added the process is still within the expected time frame for the insurance investigators to complete their inspections and reports, as well as the time required to make a decision on the insurance process and the future of the building.
The hold-up now is waiting for Consumers Energy and DTW to remove and relocate the utilities. Narsh said he and the village are working to help expedite the process.
“It’s underway and I think the owners are moving as fast as they can. They don’t like looking at it either,” Narsh said. “I would expect it to be done by late spring.”
Until the debris is cleared and the building is demolished, Narsh cautions residents not to cross the yellow police tape and enter the rubble for any reason.
“We have not had any problems. We’re happy that people have respected that police line,” Narsh said. “Lake Orion’s a pretty patient community.”
The Lake Orion Pet Centre had been a fixture in the downtown for 50 years, providing grooming services and boarding for many of Lake Orion’s pets.
The fire in January took six hours for fire crews to completely extinguish, with firefighters from Orion Township’s four fire stations and the Lake Orion Police Dept. responding to the emergency.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Dept., The Oxford Fire Dept. and Lake Orion Village DPW aided onsite, while the Auburn Hills Fire Dept. covered the south end of the township, said Fire Chief Bob Smith and Narsh.
The “tome” or alarm came into the fire stations at 8:12 a.m., with a crew and fire truck from Station One on nearby Anderson Street arriving at the fire in less than a minute, said Smith, who arrived two minutes later.
L.O.P.D. Officers Todd Stansfield and Brian Martinez were patrolling the area when the alarm sounded and arrived at the fire within seconds, evacuating four residents from the upstairs apartments and rescuing four kenneled dogs from the Pet Centre, Narsh said.
Dr. Kevin Morris at the Lake Orion Veterinary Center took in the dogs and treated them for smoke inhalation, Narsh said.
The Lake Orion Pet Centre had undergoing extensive remodeling in the past two years. It also boasts a champion decorative pet groomer who provides – colorful – options for spritzing up your pets.
Owner Sharon Scharr opened the business 51 years ago in 1965 with her mother, Betty McNeil. The Lake Orion Veterinarian Hospital was in the front of the building at that time.