DOWNTOWN YOUNGSTOWN A new building for Social Security?

Environmental factors could scuttle the plan.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The federal government is considering having a new Social Security office built on the fringe of downtown.
A Chicago developer would buy property at East Federal Street and Andrews Avenue next to the old Weatherbee Coats building. The developer, San Drew, would build a nearly 15,000-square foot, single-story building and lease it to the government.
The deal is far from done, however, said James Davis, a local real estate attorney representing the developer Tuesday before the city zoning appeals board.
The developer hasn't bought the property yet, he said. The developer also is having an environmental study done. Environmental factors could scuttle the plan, Davis said.
The zoning appeals board approved a variance if the project goes forward. The variance reduces the required rear yard setback from 30 feet to 8 feet.
Davis said he had no other information about the potential project.
Cellular tower
A 150-foot cellular tower on the grounds of Kirkmere School fell a vote short of approval.
The appeals board voted 3-2 to approve the tower, but four votes are needed to approve a variance. Two absent members will read meeting transcripts and cast their votes at the next appeals board session.
T-Mobile asked for a variance to reduce the required rear yard setback from 198 feet to 16 feet.
T-Mobile needs the spot to improve poor cellular coverage in the West Side area, said Lou Siyufi, a company representative. The site is the best location with the least impact on the neighborhood, he said.
The company has a 30-year lease with the city school district to use a 40-foot by 60-foot spot in a remote section of the property, said Anthony DeNiro, the district's executive director of school business affairs. The school district would receive $1,000 a month from the lease, he said.
Edward Smith, an attorney for an assisted living center nearby on South Schenley Avenue, Inn at Christine Valley, objected. The tower would be too close to the center, he said. The center has future plans to expand its residential offerings and a tower in that spot would interfere, he said. Board member Angelo Pignatelli said he voted against the variance to give T-Mobile and the assisted living center time to negotiate. Law Director John McNally IV also cast a vote against the variance.
Tuesday was the first meeting for two new members. Mayor George M. McKelvey named Pignatelli, a former board member, and Irving Lev, to four-year terms.
rgsmith@vindy.com