Masters complex to come down to make room for a parking lot

The space could be used for downtown development.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city plans to spend about $500,000 to demolish the former Masters building complex on West Federal Street and replace it with a parking lot.
City council Wednesday authorized the board of control to contract with the lowest and best bidders to remove asbestos and demolish the vacant buildings, and to sign professional service agreements for the project.
The city will advertise for bids and professional service contracts in the next 60 days, and the buildings will be demolished this summer, said David Bozanich, city finance director.
Vacant for 20 years
City officials are working on the demolition project with the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp., a quasi-government agency that owns the Masters building complex and other downtown properties.
The buildings, vacant for about 20 years, used to house Masters, a business that rented tuxedos and costumes, said Carmen Conglose Jr., deputy director of the city's public works department.
The buildings, which are about 80 years old, are on the south side of West Federal Street between Vindicator Square and Fifth Avenue. There are about seven buildings in the complex, Conglose said.
The only business in the complex is Ross Radio Inc., a retail electronics store on the far west corner, closest to Fifth Avenue. Charles Sammarone, a CIC member and the city's water commissioner, said the CIC doesn't own the building that houses Ross.
Once asbestos is removed from the vacant buildings and the structures are demolished, the city plans to pave the site for an 80-to-90-vehicle parking lot, at least for the time being, Bozanich said.
"The city worked to free up money for this because it's a gateway to the downtown," he said.
$123 million budget
Because of an expansion project at the George Voinovich Government Center, Powers Auditorium lost some of its parking, Bozanich said. This lot would ease the auditorium's parking shortage, he said.
"We're getting rid of slum and blight, and opening the area for future development," Conglose said. "The thought is to construct a temporary parking lot, and then work to attract business to that area."
Also Wednesday, council authorized the board of control to move ahead with the city's $1.2 million street resurfacing program, which should start June 15 and be done by Aug. 30.
Council also adopted the city's $123 million budget for 2005.