YOUNGSTOWN CIC to offer annex for appeals court

YOUNGSTOWN -- Downtown's redevelopment agency again will offer the city hall annex as new space for the 7th District Court of Appeals.
The executive board of the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. will meet Monday to decide on a proposal, said Councilman Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, CIC vice president.
The proposal hasn't been finalized but will differ from one the agency previously made to Mahoning County, he said. The county arranges space for the appeals court.
CIC proposed using the annex at Front and Market streets last year but the agency and the county never agreed on terms.
In October, the county sought bids from any of the eight counties the court serves.
They include Mahoning, Columbiana, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Noble, Belmont and Monroe. The bid deadline was pushed back to Dec. 6 so the city could made its bid, Gillam said.
The county is seeking about 14,000 square feet of office space to house the court, which sits on the fourth floor of the county courthouse. The court, which has four judges and 15 employees, has long been out of space.
CIC is dedicated to keeping the court downtown, Gillam said. County officials also say they want to keep the court in Youngstown.
If a site in another county is selected, it would be the first time in the court's history that it was located anywhere other than Youngstown.