NEW CASTLE Council opens bids for downtown work

Terreri Construction of North Jackson, Ohio, was the low bidder.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Work on downtown revitalization should start sometime after Jan. 1, according to city officials.
Council opened bids Thursday for the work on street resurfacing, new sidewalks, curbs, lighting, traffic signals, parking and parking meters for the first phase of revamping downtown. Terreri Construction Co. Inc. of North Jackson, Ohio, was the low bidder at $3,549,811.
City Administrator John DiMuccio said that bid was well under what they had estimated the cost to be. "We are extremely happy," he said.
Council is expected to approve the bid next Thursday.
The project is being paid for by a mix of state and local money. City officials were awarded $5 million through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
The money was given to the city for a public/private development meant to revitalize downtown. The city will contribute $4.6 million through loans, bonds and other government funding sources. Private developers are expected to spend $2.4 million on property improvements.
Targeted areas: Work on the first phase will focus on East Washington, Mill and East streets, DiMuccio said. Other phases will include creation of a park and parking lot on Grant Street, rehabilitation of Kennedy Square and creation of a park along Water Street near the Neisner-Centennial buildings.
The Neisner-Centennial buildings are the focal point for the private development of a Warner Bros.-themed mall planned by Cascade Development.
The group plans to have retail shops, restaurants and other attractions around the first movie theater owned by the Warner brothers, the Youngstown natives who went on to be Hollywood movie makers.