DOWNTOWN YOUNGSTOWN McKelvey backs plan for entertainment district

Council could revoke the designation if there are concerns about licenses.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The mayor now is recommending approval of a state-designated entertainment district downtown because liquor licenses won't be affected.
McKelvey sent his recommendation to city council late last week.
The Youngstown Arts and Entertainment District Association submitted the application a month ago.
City council has 75 days to approve or deny the request.
Liquor licenses
The mayor rejected a similar application the group made earlier this year. He said there wasn't enough time to explore the issue fully. He was concerned about the effect on liquor license holders downtown.
Monday, McKelvey said he has no objection because liquor licenses won't be an issue -- at least for now.
The state makes available 15 new licenses in entertainment districts and sells them for $1,875. That's a steep discount from the $20,000 that some pay for liquor permits on the open market.
State law, however, requires a population of more than 100,000 to get those licenses. Youngstown doesn't meet the requirement.
"Passing this now does no harm to any liquor license holders. That's the most important point," McKelvey said.
Approving the designation keeps the "energy and enthusiasm" of the downtown group, he said.
A bill before the Ohio House, however, would lower the population threshold to 20,000, and Youngstown would qualify.
That's OK, too, McKelvey said. Legislation to approve an entertainment district will let city council review the designation if that happens. Council could revoke the designation if there are concerns about the additional liquor licenses, he said.
David Simon, president of the entertainment district groups, said he is pleased to see the process move ahead.
He doesn't think liquor licenses will be a big issue.
Simon expects the entertainment district designation to bring state and other grants. That help should spur development downtown, he said.
Once more people are coming downtown, there will be demand for restaurants, he said. The city then will be embracing new development such as the restaurants, Simon said. Liquor licenses for them will be a minor point by then, he said.
Plus, the new licenses won't devalue the permits out there now, Simon said.
Business inside an entertainment district that gets the new licenses can't sell them outside the district, he said. Meanwhile, current permit holders still can sell their licenses anywhere in the city, he said.