TRUMBULL COUNTY Ridgeview Plaza fits the bill for social services 'one-stop'

The only building deemed acceptable is more than two miles from downtown.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- An architect's report found that a Warren shopping center is the only one of three proposed locations that would be acceptable as a one-stop headquarters for Trumbull County social service agencies.
Trumbull County commissioners paid for the study in response to a statewide initiative encouraging counties to put the many government agencies that provide direct assistance under one roof. Where, and if, it is built will be the commissioners' decision.
Phillips/Sekanick Architects, Inc., of Warren concluded that Ridgeview Plaza on U.S. Route 422 would fit the bill. But the report also said that all the sites considered had "a certain degree of weakness."
Offices involved: A one-stop center would include offices for Trumbull County Jobs and Family Services, Child Support Enforcement Agency, Workforce Investment Act and Veterans Services.
Officials also hope that nonprofit agencies, such as Goodwill and the Urban League, would also want to locate offices in the center.
The idea is to create a mall-like setting to make it more convenient for people to find the services they need. Offices for most of the government agencies involved are now in several buildings in downtown Warren.
"I'm happy with where they are now," said Joseph J. Angelo Jr., a Trumbull County Commissioner. "They are serving people well the way they have been."
Others looked at: Other sites considered in the $13,000 study were the First United Methodist Church on North Park Avenue and 150 South Park Ave., the site of Trumbull County Jobs and Family Services.
Between 200 and 400 people would work at the one-stop center, and the architect estimated a need for about 600 parking spaces.
The First United Methodist Church site was small for the size building necessary for a one-stop center, and parking is inadequate, the report says. Buying the land and building on the site would cost the county about $14.5 million, plus an additional $4.5 million for a parking deck.
Renting more space in 150 South Park to accommodate the one-stop center was estimated to cost $20 million for 20 years, without consideration for parking and without getting ownership of the building. As well, the architect pointed out some deficiencies in the aging structure, owned by Kleese Development.
Miles away: Ridgeview Plaza, owned by Paran Management Co., is more than two miles from Warren's central commercial district. The owners offered to lease the building to the county for 10 years, then sell it, for a total cost of $14 million to the county.
Angelo said he doubted the state will make money available to build or renovate a new county building.
"I'm not going to consider anything until I have money in my pocket," he said.