DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT Demolition plans advance

The project could be done by late 2006.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Another group of abandoned buildings in the city's downtown is moving toward demolition.
The downtown redevelopment agency's property committee recommended Tuesday to its full board that it hire an Akron company to conduct testing and other tasks at five buildings west of the Youngstown Business Incubator on West Federal Street.
The Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. will consider the committee's recommendation at its meeting next Tuesday.
The CIC plans to spend about $5.2 million to demolish the five buildings immediately west of the incubator, and build a 25,000-square-foot, free-standing facility there, said Jason Whitehead, the agency's executive director.
The business incubator provides many free services, reduced rent -- and in some cases, free rent -- for upstart technology-based companies, said Jim Cossler, incubator director. Once the companies outgrow the incubator space, they move to other locations, sometimes out of Youngstown.
Tech center
CIC and incubator officials envision the proposed building, to be called the Youngstown Technology Center, as the destination for those companies. The CIC owns the five buildings.
"We don't want those companies leaving the city," said Reid Dulberger, a CIC staffer. "This building would give them a place in downtown."
Softek Software and Turning Technologies, both located at the incubator, have signed letters of intent to move to the new facility, Cossler said.
Construction on the new facility could start at the end of this year or early 2006, and be done by the end of 2006, Dulberger said.
That plan includes the CIC hiring Brownfield Restoration Group LLC of Akron for $34,341.50 next week, as recommended by its property committee.
The company would:
UDetermine if there are environmental issues -- such as asbestos, lead-based paint or other hazardous conditions -- at the five buildings.
UFill out a Clean Ohio Fund grant application for money needed for demolition and environmental remediation. The Akron company has filed 11 such applications for other entities in Ohio, and each application resulted in COF money, Dulberger said. The CIC estimates the cost of demolition and environmental remediation at $650,000, Dulberger said. But that is a rough estimate, and could change, he said.
UProviding specifications for remediation at the five buildings.
UIf needed, doing more intensive testing at the site, including soil borings. Dulberger said the company doesn't think more intensive testing is needed at the location. If that is the case, the contract's cost would be reduced by $19,534, he said.
Except for the former Isaly's building, the four other structures have been vacant for at least 15 years, Dulberger said. Plaza Optical used to occupy the Isaly's building, but moved to another building farther east on West Federal Street six or seven years ago, Dulberger said.
Paid for by grants
The estimated $5.2 million price tag would all be funded by state and federal grants. To date, the project has $2.75 million from state capital bill funds, and $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
CIC and incubator officials hope to pay for demolition and environmental remediation through the Clean Ohio Fund.
The agencies also seek about $1.5 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and will apply for the money in September, Dulberger said. The EDA has provided significant funding to the incubator, he said.
As part of its downtown redevelopment effort, the CIC, in partnership with the city, will demolish the former Masters building complex, a block west of the incubator, this summer.
City council last week authorized about $500,000 to demolish the six abandoned buildings, owned by the CIC, and replace them with a parking lot for the time-being. City and CIC officials hope removing the blight will entice businesses to construct buildings at that location.