Traficant objects to private funding

A privately financed 6,500-seat arena is not what Traficant had intended.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A privately financed downtown arena sounds like a no-brainer compared to the public project in the works now.
Not so fast, some say.
The man who secured $26.8 million in federal funding -- U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Poland, D-17th -- certainly doesn't want to see the proposed 10,000-seat, $40 million downtown civic center project changed.
Keeping that money was tenuous at best after the Sept. 11 attacks, said Traficant spokesman Charles Straub.
Now, trying to direct the money away from a publicly funded arena and toward city government buildings gives Congress an even bigger reason to rescind the grant, he said. Congress is very much aware that the money is out there for defense needs, he said.
"Chances are good the funding will dry up," Straub said. "This compounds the problem."
Traficant probably won't seek to have the money pulled, but he's not interested in talking about changing how the money is used, his spokesman said.
Different purpose: A privately financed, 6,500-seat arena as in Massillon is far different in purpose than what Traficant intended when he secured the money, Straub said.
Higher ticket, food and parking prices come when private investors need a return on their money, he said. A publicly subsidized building was meant to be a place residents could afford, he said.
"Redirecting this ... does a great disservice," Straub said.
Robert VanSickle, arena board vice chairman and a Traficant appointee to the board, echoed that position. He said he thinks a majority of the arena board feels the same way.
A privately developed arena would put the average event ticket price at $40 to $60 each, he said. A publicly subsidized building would avoid a lot of debt and leave ticket prices at $15 to $20 each, VanSickle said.
"This is totally different," he said of the Massillon project.
He also points to the lack of experience of the company behind the Massillon project, MG/Dove of Carmel, Ind. Massillon is the company's first arena.
Private money will come to the Youngstown project shortly, VanSickle said. A project manager will be hired by November.
That is when the board will seek proposals to design, build and finance the balance of the project, he said. Many investors already have expressed their interest privately, he said. There is no reason to stop the project unless Congress pulls the money or Traficant changes his mind, VanSickle said.
"We're going forward. We're doing everything we're charged to do," VanSickle said.
Division: But not even all of Traficant's own people agree.
Arena board member William Binning, also a Traficant appointee, said any private possibilities should be explored. The congressman's view should be considered, but much of the $26.8 million could do wonders for changing downtown, he said.
"Certainly, we're not going to see that kind of money again. It has to be used wisely," Binning said. "The downtown could be dramatically changed."
There's at least some division on city council, too.
James E. Fortune Sr., D-6th, council's finance chairman, supports a private arena and using the federal money differently. But another finance member, John R. Swierz, D-7th, said he can't support a change. A 6,500-seat building is too small, he said.
"A 10,000-seat is right on target," he said.
He also is skeptical of whether the federal government would let the $26.8 million be spent on government-type offices.
The third finance member, Ron Sefcik, D-4th, wasn't available to comment.
Charles P. Sammarone, city council president, agrees with Binning.
Both are members of downtown's redevelopment agency, the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. Tuesday, Sammarone finished nearly five years as CIC president.
A private arena plus publicly funded downtown development, indeed, is a no-brainer, he said. Local leaders need to be open-minded about the potential, he said.
"I would like to see us do as much as we can with the money we have. You have an opportunity to do a lot," he said. "We'd be fools not to get it all."
rgsmith@vindy.com