The recent strong winds damaged the facade of a photography studio on Broadway in downtown Lorraine.

Jason Shaffer began to remove the awning, plywood and loose bricks for emergency repairs because a panel loosened and damaged the metal tubes of the two lights in front of Jason Shaffer Photography at 633 Broadway.

Shafer said the lights were hanging by wires, so they needed to be removed. He said that the other lights are still intact, but they will fall off due to painting.

The awnings did not blow off, Shaffer said, but he removed them to reach the wood and bricks behind.

The awning is inside the studio.

"To be honest, I don't know if I want to put them back. I like the way the building looks bare," Shaffer said.

The plywood has some rotten wood and some nails.

This work is a bit subtle because Shaffer uses a hammer and crowbar on a scissor lift to reach his studio and the area above the main entrance of Earth & Oak, a shop selling handmade spices, tea and coffee.

Clear skies and mild temperatures on December 14 helped.

"I don't want to stay there when it's windy, so today is my day," he said.

Matt Nahorn, a friend, local historian and Amherst 4th district councillor, was there to provide ground support.

The last two panels are "a bear, but I'm doing this carefully because I don't want to loosen other things, and I don't want to fall down, so I just take it slowly," he said.

Cement slabs will be a temporary measure to support the facade and block ice and snow in winter. When the weather warms in the spring, a more complete restoration will be carried out.

"If all goes well, all this wood, all the way to the sandstone, will be bricks," Schafer said.

He hopes to provide goods and work through local companies to make the restoration project "everything Lorain".

Shaffer said that Broadway small business owners have always supported each other. He has done photography and design for Union Town Provisions and Ariel Broadway Hotel's restaurant Dodie's Dockside.