It certainly doesn't look like it now, but for nearly a century, 38 acres on East Liverpool's east end were the home of the Hall China Company.
Ray Six, who owns a recycling company in town, has designs on taking over the empty property.

He says he has a way to both grow his business and spruce up the neighborhood.

"We've just outgrown where we're at," Six said. "There's a really nice building...we'd like to use for a multi sports complex."

Six wants officials to give him a zoning variance to tear the old plant (which is already zoned industrial) down and put a junk storage and sales facility in its stead.

"We come across properties like this all the time that just sit vacant...then before you know it, there's graffiti all through it, glass is broken," says Six. "Nobody wants that."

But neighbors from all corners of the city aren't thrilled.

"I've been in my house 49 years...there's plenty of other places around here where they can take it and do it!" said Rita Evans.

She and more than 30 others gathered Thursday night to make sure the zoning board heard them.

"I'm happy Mr. Six is living the American dream, but he's causing the people who live in the east end to live an American nightmare," said David Hager. 

"We just had our church remodeled, a lot of money tied up in it. But I tell you if he's allowed to put this in we'll close our church within a year, I guarantee it," Hager said. 

In the end, the zoning board couldn't make up its mind, and is taking 30 days to do its homework before voting.