DOWNTOWN Council gathers ideas for building

City council members disagreed on what to do with the Wick Building.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Nobody argues with seeking proposals for the Wick building.
Persuading city council members to part with the downtown property could be harder.
Council's buildings and grounds committee agreed Wednesday to pass legislation seeking bids or other proposals for the 13-story office building. The city will also seek appraisals.
Mayor: A looming $233,400 bill for a new elevator causing him to reconsider the city's ownership, Mayor George M. McKelvey asked for the legislation.
He doesn't want the city being a landlord, saying it doesn't have the expertise to manage such property.
The long-term costs must be compared to the city's benefit, McKelvey said. He estimates that upgrading windows, the roof and mechanical systems could run $1 million.
Any money invested in the Wick leaves less for neighborhoods. A low offer to sell the building might not be so bad, he said.
The city tried to sell the building when Patrick Ungaro was mayor but the best offer was about $50,000. Mahoning County auditor records list the building with a $779,000 market value.
The 78-year-old building, donated to the city in 1994 by the Burdman family, is at Federal Plaza West and Phelps Street, next to the Phar-Mor building.
Caution: McKelvey cautioned council about investing in the building and competing even more so with the private sector.
He explained the situation like this: The Wick is about 35 percent full, much like other private downtown buildings. A city effort to improve and then fill the building would draw complaints from other downtown property owners.
Private building owners will argue, legitimately, that tax dollars are being used to undercut them.
"I agree with them. We'd embarrass ourselves," McKelvey said.
James E. Fortune Sr., D-6th, agreed with staying away from competing with the private sector.
The city hasn't done a good job marketing, managing or maintaining the building, said Rufus Hudson, D-2nd. He has little faith it can. The city has to take a hard look at getting rid of the building, he said.
Differing views: Other council members view the issue differently.
Badmouthing the building's condition is no way to try selling a building, said Richard Atkinson, R-3rd. Getting little for the property would set a bad precedent.
"I'm not in favor of giving it away," Atkinson said.
Investing in the building will bring a better price, said Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, the downtown councilman. The city should keep the Wick if it can improve the building, fill it up and break even, said John R. Swierz, D-7th.
The building wouldn't be in such a financial and physical mess if the city had someone dedicated to overseeing its properties, Swierz said.
The city lost major assets such as the airport, Lake Milton and Mill Creek Park because there was nobody to correctly manage them, said Ron Sefcik, D-4th.