TRUMBULL COUNTY Parking lot stands out for senior-complex site

Five churches are within view of a proposed site for senior housing.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority is exploring the construction of a senior-citizen housing complex on the Girard Justice Center parking lot.
Mayor James J. Melfi said he viewed several sites Thursday with Donald W. Emerson Jr., authority director.
The city-owned Market Street lot, the mayor said, seemed to interest Emerson the most because five churches can be seen from there.
Also, the lot has utilities, is near a grocery store and a senior-citizen center, and has access to U.S. Route 422.
"We're excited about it," Melfi said.
The authority operates 1,856 public-housing units throughout the county, with about 900 for senior citizens and the disabled. This includes the 80-unit Northview senior-citizen complex on North Avenue.
Other options
Other sites looked at Thursday were the former Ohio Leather Works and former Clark service station, both on Route 422; the former North Avenue School; and acreage owned by Ohio Edison Co. in the Parkwood area on the South Side.
"It looks fairly promising," Melfi said of the parking-lot site.
Melfi said he wants a senior-citizens building to conform to existing architecture downtown.
He has been talking about more senior housing because he gets a lot of inquiries about it.
He noted that Northview always has a waiting list because seniors don't want to move out of the city and those who live outside want to move in.
The housing authority wants to expand, Melfi said, not only here, but possibly in other communities.
The mayor said he will send the idea for further review to city council's community development committee under chairman John Moliterno, D-at large.
The city is not in a position to give away the land, and Melfi said council will decide how TMHA would take ownership.
yovich@vindy.com