$41 million project put on a fast track

Architects redesigned the building's look to fit downtown, a city official said.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city hopes to break ground in about two weeks for a downtown arena closely resembling one in Texas.
The city's design review committee was to hear a presentation today on how the arena will look.
The building's style doesn't stray much from an arena opened last year in Hidalgo, Texas, according to drawings the design board will review. City officials billed the Texas project as a prototype for Youngstown.
Finance Director David Bozanich said architects substantially redesigned the building's look to fit downtown. The fa & ccedil;ade will be much different from Hidalgo's, he said.
The cream-colored bricks and blue metal panels -- which Bozanich called "high-end" -- are improvements to a more plain fa & ccedil;ade in Hidalgo, he said. Architects surveyed downtown to come up with the color scheme, he said.
Also, extra glass will allow more natural light into the city's arena, another improvement over the Texas arena, he said.
A larger building and budget for the city project let architects make the changes, Bozanich said. The city project is about $41 million. Budgets show about $25 million devoted just to the building. The entire Hidalgo project cost about $20 million.
The design gives vendors, concession operators and the public more space inside than the Hidalgo arena, Bozanich said.
"It's about presenting a high-quality, high-value experience, and we think we can accomplish that," he added.
What's planned
The city aims for a groundbreaking June 22, though the date isn't firm, Bozanich said.
Foundation design is done, and a contract to dig the giant hole will be let within days. The contract is to be awarded and dirt moved by the first week in July, he said.
The project is on a fast track. For example, seeking and awarding a foundation contract typically takes about 30 days. The city is trimming that to 21 days, he said.
Bozanich is confident that the companies involved can meet the accelerated schedule. The opening date remains mid-November 2005, according to a recent schedule from Hunt Construction Corp. Hunt is a partner of the developer, International Coliseums Co., Phoenix.
Drawings show a 94,583-square-foot arena with a plaza area at Front and Walnut streets. Entrance doors are on the Front Street side.
A driveway near where the old Goodyear building now sits -- the city soon will take over the property -- is shown leading to parking lots. A 175-space lot is shown along the western side of the arena along the road into the property.
A 212-space lot is shown to the south of the arena, including 14 handicap spaces. A neighboring 161-space lot is shown, labeled as alternative employee parking.
A 20-space lot is shown off Front Street, presumably for employee parking.
Parking
The concept is to have most people who attend events park downtown and walk a few blocks to the arena. If that becomes a problem, there are up to 10 available acres on the site between the Market Street and South Avenue bridges that can be turned into parking later, Bozanich said.
"We don't think parking will be an issue at all," he said.
Interest is strong in the 24 planned luxury boxes, Bozanich said. At least eight companies have an interest in buying one, he added.
Land sales associated with the arena are moving ahead, said Law Director John McNally IV.
The city is talking with John Giannios, the owner of the old Goodyear building on East Front between Champion and Walnut streets. The matter is in court, McNally said.
The city at least wants to secure the property immediately and let the court determine a value later. Even without such an agreement, the city would be able to take possession under eminent domain by August, McNally said. Eminent domain is the right of government to take or authorize the taking of private property for public use. Just compensation usually is given to the owner.
A sale should be complete by week's end to buy a strip of property owned by CSX Railroad, he said. The property runs from behind the Goodyear building to South Avenue. A closing is to be in about 10 days. The sale will give the city access to the land so work can start even if the closing is delayed, he said.
Meanwhile, the city is scheduled to close on a deal today to buy an old gas station on Front Street.
rgsmith@vindy.com