YOUNGSTOWN Arena project: a brisk agenda

Public input on the project may not be sought before developers are approached.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Plans for the proposed downtown civic center project will move with the seasons.
Spring will bloom with ideas. Prospective developers will work all summer on their proposals. The chosen ones will have the project in their hands this fall.
That's the time line produced for the city by the project consultant, Compass Facility Management.
The schedule is an aggressive one, said Mayor George M. McKelvey.
In Massillon: It took Massillon about two years to move from the talking stage to signing the developer for its downtown arena, he said. If the outline holds, Youngstown's project will take a few months less than that, he said. The now-defunct arena board started formal talks about the project a year ago.
The schedule is important because it gives skeptics a way to gauge the project's progress, he said.
"It answers the community's questions on the project's status," McKelvey said.
The city signed a signed a six-month, $59,100 contract with Compass, of Ames, Iowa, three weeks ago. Since then, the company has put together a team to work on the project and started background research, said Steven L. Peters, Compass president.
Work has included local market research and looking at prime tenant prospects, such as minor league hockey, indoor football, concert promoters and other regional entertainment.
The coming month will bring talks with potential local users of a civic center.
Gauging demand: Consultants will approach small groups such as amateur athletic groups, sectors of local industry such as health care, and area schools, Peters said. Those meetings will gauge how much -- and what type of -- demand there is for a civic center, he said.
"That gives it as much shape and reality to it as you can," he said.
Compass probably will seek the public's input, because the city has up to $28.6 million in federal funds available for the project, Peters said.
That probably won't happen, however, before the consultant and city come up with a list of desires that private developers will be asked to meet. Developers most want to hear from those who will rent the facility, Peters said.
Developers may do their own surveys to see what people in the five-county market want in such a building, he said. If Compass seeks such input, methods could include town hall-style meetings, written surveys or a Web site to post comments, Peters said.
Council role: McKelvey said the city will rely on council members to relay what constituents want, unless the consultant recommends deeper study.
City officials are sure to get an earful from the public after developers submit their proposals, McKelvey said.
Most of May, June and July will concern developing the proposal and letting the private sector evaluate the project. In August, several finalists will be picked. The city will negotiate deals and see what happens.
The process may stretch into September, but contracts should be awarded within that month, Peters said.
rgsmith@vindy.com