YOUNGSTOWN BFI says neighborhood was not a factor in leaving city
AUSTINTOWN -- BFI moved its local office from Youngstown to Austintown because it wanted to operate from buildings it owned rather than leased, an official said.
Neighborhood conditions had no bearing on the company's decision to leave its Glenwood Avenue offices, said Tom Latimer, district vice president.
"We didn't have many problems there," he said.
Judge's criticism: Judge Maureen Cronin mentioned BFI as one of the companies that has fled Youngstown neighborhoods when she blasted city council Wednesday for not paying enough attention to deteriorating neighborhoods.
Latimer said that was not a factor in his company's decision to move its office and trucking operations to buildings it owns on Thatcher Lane and Henricks Road, both in Austintown.
The lease on the Glenwood building was up and the company didn't think it made financial sense to renew it, he said.
He said about 160 people are working at both Austintown locations, including office workers and drivers.
BFI moved its office from Youngstown in August and the trucking operations in January.
The company collects garbage in Mahoning and Trumbull counties and parts of Columbiana county and western Pennsylvania.