Recruiting station is set for relocation

The Warren facility is moving toward the Eastwood Mall.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Armed Services Recruiting Station, a downtown fixture for 34 years, is redeploying.
John W. Kurtz, who owns the building at North Park Avenue and High Street across from the county courthouse, said the lease expires Oct. 31. Already the facade and markings have been removed from the building.
The recruiting station plans to reopen at the Time Warner Building on U.S. Route 422 near the Eastwood Mall, just south of North Road -- and still in the city.
"They've been a good tenant," Kurtz said.
Longevity
The station has been at its current location for 34 years. The Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines recruit out of the station.
"They have been an institution downtown," Anthony Iannucci, director of the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corp., said Tuesday.
Iannucci and Barry Dunaway, Kurtz's son-in-law who is in charge of leasing the building, said they have been in contact with businessmen who might be interested in renting the 4,000 square feet.
Iannucci said he sees the move as another opportunity to draw business to the downtown.
Nonetheless, there are five empty storefronts along North Park between Market Street and High. Despite this, Iannucci said, successful stores have moved in.
A recruiting station spokesman was not available Tuesday for comment.
Iannucci said the recruiters were looking for a newer facility, such as the Time Warner Building.
Cited shortcomings
Dunaway said recruiters, who are usually stationed here for about a year, have been complaining for some time about the lack of foot traffic.
They have also been concerned, Dunaway explained, about the lack of front-door parking. And, recruiters have said they are not meeting their recruiting quotas.
Their attitude, Dunaway said, was, "Let's get out of downtown." The new location, however, lacks foot traffic and there are no restaurants within walking distance.
The move, Dunaway said, will be a loss to downtown restaurants since between a dozen and 20 people work at the station. They also take recruits to lunch.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in charge of leases for the station.
"The corps has been easy to work with all these years," Dunaway said.
The downtown building at 180 North Park won't be vacant, Kurtz explained. There are offices on the second floor and apartments on the third level.
yovich@vindy.com