YOUNGSTOWN Leaders air opinions on civic center

Project officials were glad to hear support from leaders in Youngstown's suburbs.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Build the civic center, build it now and build it between the Market Street and South Avenue bridges.
That was the consensus Wednesday among the people who came out to advise those in charge.
About 75 people came to air their views to city council and civic center board members. Most of the 20 or so speakers were political and community leaders or were connected in some way to the project.
Among the few who weren't was Nicholas Dubos of Pittsburgh. He's formerly of Youngstown and wants to come back -- hopefully to a downtown arena.
The area has lots of potential, but it's dragged down by negativity, he said. Such a building won't solve all the problems, "but it's a major start."
The Mahoning River, in the bridges' site, is just waiting to be developed, Dubos said.
There were some differing opinions about the bridges or proposed downtown west end sites, but the river prevailed.
Mark A. Rafidi, a lawyer in Youngstown, said a building on the river is the perfect opportunity. It's not worth the time and money to uproot businesses in the west end, he said.
Ideas needed: Naysayers need to quit complaining and come up with ways to draw 500,000 people a year, add quality of life and revive downtown, said Bill Weimer. He was representing Bruce Zoldan and Alan Levin, who plan to propose managing the building and operating hockey and arena football teams.
Youngstown and the surrounding areas deserve the added quality of life, he said.
Bob Barko Jr., an artist downtown, echoed those sentiments. "We can't let this opportunity pass," he said.
Similar thoughts were heard from suburban leaders.
The arena project is a great foundation for renewal that should draw suburbanites to downtown, said Bo Pritchard, an Austintown Township trustee.
Austintown leaders recognize that without a strong Youngstown, there is no strong Mahoning County. "We can only prosper if Youngstown can turn itself around," he said.
The arena is a catalyst the region has been waiting for, and it can work, said John Cox, a Boardman Township trustee.
Encouraged: That's what Richard Atkinson, the city council member who convened the gathering, hoped to hear. Atkinson, R-3rd, wanted people to see that council and the arena board were united. He also wanted to hear from suburban leaders.
The hearing showed that council and the arena board are working together, Atkinson said. Comments from the suburbs showed there is support beyond city boundaries.
The Rev. Edward P. Noga, an arena board member who has pushed hard for public input, also was encouraged. The project is a regional one, which must be recognized, he said.
Father Noga wants to hear more from citizens and potential ticket buyers around the region about what they think and what they want. "I hope we have more of these. They're important," he said of the public hearings.
A few people said the project already should have started and officials should not waste more time. "I want to see something done here," said Calvin Hill Sr. of Youngstown.
Mayor George M. McKelvey took exception.
The city got the needed approval to use the money eight months ago and has five years to spend it. Plenty of effort has gone into the project in that time. Complete planning is needed, not a rush to break ground, he said.
Press coverage has left the perception of conflict and controversy, McKelvey said. That, however, is nothing more than debate, discussion and different ideas that are an essential part of the project.
Those who cast doubt on the project are unfairly using negative 20- and 30-year-old arena studies, McKelvey said. They should be focusing on the most recent study done within the past two years that says the project will work.