YOUNGSTOWN City OKs parking lot fence

A city facade grant will pay about $7,000 of the $17,000 fence price tag.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A new west end downtown parking lot will feature a neat, black aluminum picket fence instead of decorative chain.
The city's design review commission approved the design Wednesday for the 46-space lot at 201/2 Boardman St. The lot also is bounded by Front Street and Vindicator Square.
Coyne Investments of Cleveland will pave the lot, surround it with fencing and plant a tree at Boardman Street and Vindicator Square.
Coyne will get a city facade grant to pay about $7,000 of the $17,000 fence cost.
In August, the board deferred Coyne's proposal and suggested the fence, similar to the one that lines the new parking lot on the old Higbee site.
Coyne planned to surround his lot with a decorative chain, saying fencing cost too much. The board deferred the issue so the city and company could talk about the grant.
Tight budget: Board members suggested more trees and bushes, but John Coyne of Coyne Investments said there's no room on the lot or in his budget. The improvements already are costing about $70,000, about $20,000 more than it would in Cleveland, he said.
"I can't spend any more money," he said.
Work in smaller towns like Youngstown and Stubenville seem to cost more than in larger cities, he said.
Coyne asked the city for a fourth driveway near the Boardman-Vindicator Square intersection. The city denied the request, however, saying it was too close to the corner. Three drives will remain, one from each street bordering the lot.
Coyne will need to acquire a small strip of city land near Boardman Street to make the lot symmetrical.
A retaining wall that borders the lot will remain. Someone plans to buy the building behind the retaining wall and open it, he said. Coyne said he tried to buy the building and level it for parking but was rebuffed.
The work should be done by year's end. The lot will be closed about two weeks while the improvements are made.
rgsmith@vindy.com