LOWELLVILLE Owners are ordered to repair buildings

LOWELLVILLE -- The owners of a downtown apartment building and five single-family houses have been given 30 days to bring the buildings up to code or face the possibility of having them demolished.
The front wall is literally falling away from the apartment building at 193 Washington St., said Don Hall, Mahoning County's chief building official, who issued the citations.
Because the front wall does not serve as a structural brace for the building, it doesn't pose as much of a risk to people inside as it does to those who might be passing by, Hall said. "If it falls, it could hit someone on the sidewalk and really hurt them."
The apartment building is occupied.
Vacant houses whose owners have been cited are at 244 and 421 East Water St., and 823 and 824 Youngstown-Lowellville Road. The owner of a house at 414 Water St. was also cited. That home is occupied.
If the buildings aren't brought into compliance within 30 days, Mayor James Iudiciani Sr. said the village will take legal action to have them demolished.