ZONING Planning board rejects proposal for male revue

A neighborhood leader contended such a club wouldn't enhance Midlothian.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A club on Midlothian Boulevard featuring male dancers isn't what South Side residents envision when they think about revitalization.
That's why the city planning board recommends that council deny a waiver that would allow such a club at 1422 E. Midlothian.
The board voted 5-0 Tuesday against recommending the waiver. City council will have the final say.
Wallace Dunne, a planning board member, pointed to a meeting in the East Midlothian neighborhood two weeks ago concerning the Youngstown 2010 comprehensive plan. Among the topics was the boulevard's future.
A few residents said Midlothian should be rezoned commercial and become a major corridor. The road should look nice to make residential living in the area attractive, they said. Spots on the street suffer from blighted residential housing.
Dunne, a past president of the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition, said a club with male dancing wouldn't enhance Midlothian.
Reason for waiver
Shauna Pupin needs the waiver because her proposed operation -- she called it a "male revue" -- would be within 500 feet of another adult entertainment spot or a place that sells alcohol. The neighboring address, 1418 E. Midlothian, is the New Affair Lounge, which has female dancers.
Pupin emphasized there would be no alcohol and no nude dancing in her club.
Dancers would go shirtless, but that's all, she said. Only soft drinks would be served, she said.
"We're not going nude, trust me. I don't want the headaches," Pupin said. "I specifically don't want alcohol. I don't want to mess with it."
Pupin said there are no other such clubs in the area and that there is money to be made in the business. Pupin said she doesn't necessarily see the appeal but that such businesses are successful.
"If you get enough good-looking guys in a room ... women love it when guys dance," she said.
She said the club would be open three days a week, usually Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Ethnic clubs
The planning board did recommend to council the rezoning of two ethnic clubs.
The American-Hungarian Club on Donald Avenue and the Pacentrano Club on Craiger Avenue each want to change their zoning from one- and two-family residential to community business. The clubs wants to be allowed to have billboards on their properties but need the zoning change to qualify for that.
Club representatives said they need the money billboards would generate to keep up their buildings.
rgsmith@vindy.com