YOUNGSTOWN City to seek Issue 2 funding for reopening Federal Plaza

The project would have to be rescheduled, but it still could finish on time.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Officials think they can avoid using $500,000 in city tax money to complete funding for reopening Federal Street downtown.
The plan delays tearing out Federal Plaza next year from the spring -- as planned -- to midsummer. The project to reopen downtown's main drag to traffic, however, could still finish by year's end as planned.
The city will seek the $500,000 through state Issue 2 funding, said Carmen Conglose Jr., deputy director of public works.
Conglose is optimistic that the city can win such a grant. The project already is funded 80 percent by the federal government. Projects have a better chance of winning Issue 2 money when they already have much of their funding, he said.
No city general-fund money would be spent, which is key to the plan, said Mayor George M. McKelvey.
The city needs $500,000 as a condition of getting federal money to pay for the $2.83 million project. But the city doesn't have the money.
Sixty city workers already are laid off, and there is a projected $2.2 million deficit this year. Higher costs loom next year that are expected to bring more job cuts.
Conglose checked into borrowing money for the city's share instead of relying on Issue 2. The city isn't financially strong enough to borrow, however, he said.
Different schedule
The city would have to alter its construction schedule if it gets the Issue 2 money.
Originally, the city planned to reopen Federal Street in two phases.
The first phase would reopen Federal between Phelps and Market streets to the square. The city would design and finance the second part, from the square to Walnut Street, while working on phase one.
Issue 2 projects, however, can't start until that money is in hand. Awards are announced in the spring each year and money is received by governments in July.
Construction would have to wait until after July. In the meantime, all the financing would be in place, so the city could design the entire project and award contracts, Conglose said.
Once work started, the project then could be done all at once. Work could be finished by the end of 2003, the date the city has targeted, he said.
Such a plan looks promising enough to a regional transportation agency.
The Eastgate Regional Council of Governments recently gave the city $123,000 to start designing phase two in anticipation of the Issue 2 money, Conglose said. If the city doesn't get the Issue 2 money, he said the project must wait until the city can find money some other way.