DOWNTOWN YOUNGSTOWN Plaza business owners want city to take action

Some are concerned with the Federal Plaza's condition until the project begins.
By MATT BIXENSTINE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Barry Silver looks out his store window upon a Federal Plaza that has seen better days.
Cigarette butts fill cracks between bricks, and concrete patchwork has become prevalent. At both plaza ends, bricks have peeled, revealing the ground underneath.
"If I was a visitor coming to Youngstown, I'd be appalled by these conditions," said Silver, owner of Silver's Vogue Shop, 27 W. Federal Plaza.
Silver has been at his current location in the plaza since 1978. He remembers downtown "at its best," when the plaza was brimming with people and department stores.
Today, as he and other downtown business owners await a restoration project to reopen two-way traffic on Federal Street, Silver said the city has let Federal Plaza go by the wayside.
"It's dilapidating," he said. "It is becoming a health hazard with the bricks, and it's continually getting worse."
Public works
Carmen Conglose Jr., deputy director of public works, said the city has not forgotten about Federal Plaza as it works "fervently" to put the restoration plan into action.
"It's maintained to the same level now as it's always been," Conglose Jr. said. "It does continue to receive regular maintenance. We're certainly not expending large amounts of capital [on Federal Plaza] at this point."
Conglose said the concrete patchwork is temporary and largely a result of a utility company rearranging for the restoration.
Joseph Mastropietro, street department superintendent, said his department, responsible for maintenance of Federal Plaza, responds to any complaint it receives in regard to its service.
Employers' views
But Richard Thomashow, owner of Jerry Lee's Quality Jewelers, 20 W. Federal Plaza, said he does not see complaining as a solution.
Although his business has not been affected significantly by the plaza and its condition -- most of his customers are downtown employees anyway -- Thomashow, like Silver, said he is frustrated.
"It's a complete disrespect," Thomashow said. "They need to do something [while waiting for restoration], even if it's just a temporary road."
Silver said at one point Federal Plaza was better-maintained. He remembers when the Youngstown Fire Department used to hose the plaza occasionally to keep it clean.
Now he said the plaza's time has passed.
"The day the wrecking ball comes and takes this out, it will enhance the draw to downtown," Silver said.
Restoration planned
The restoration project was proposed years ago as an attempt to boost the city's central business district, but state and federal requirements as well as funding hurdles have delayed it.
With funding now secure and other obstacles overcome, the $3 million restoration is expected to commence early in 2004 once the project is bid out, Conglose said.
"I think the downtown community will be better served by having better access by as many through-streets as possible," he said.
Once under way the project will take nine to 10 months, Conglose said.
In the meantime, however, Silver and Thomashow said they have no choice but to endure the plaza's condition as it lives out its last months.
Still, Thomashow said he finds consolation in the restoration project if it progresses as scheduled next year.
"All we want is for people to be able to drive and park downtown," he said. "That will make downtown come back."
mbixenstine@vindy.com