Building on a vision for growth

Sunday, August 27, 2006 A Boardman developer has stayed enthusiastic despite 50 years of building. By DON SHILLING VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR BOARDMAN — Joseph Sylvester Sr. can spot a trend about as easily as he can hammer a nail. He's been a union carpenter for 50 years, but it's his ability to spot a business opportunity that has made Joseph Sylvester Construction Co. one of the area's leading developers. "We've always seemed to know what was coming up," said Sylvester, company president. His first good move was to quit his job as a truck driver for Renner Brewery in Youngstown in 1956 and join Nick Jeswald in forming a new construction company, Jeswald and Sylvester. They built homes for about 10 years until Sylvester struck out on his own. When the Southern Park Mall opened in 1969, the contractor figured Boardman was the place to be. He moved his home and his company's offices to the township that same year and then two years later he tried something new — building commercial offices. Starting out His first office building was on West Boulevard near U.S. Route 224, where his company's headquarters remains today. "Route 224 was a two-lane road when we started. There was nothing there," he said. He put up several other commercial buildings as the business corridor grew, while continuing to build homes throughout the region. In 1981, he came back from a trip to Florida with an idea — condominiums. He built a residential condominium complex on West Boulevard but also thought condo ownership would be popular with business owners. He started building South Bridge Executive Park on Route 224 that year, offering small businesses the opportunity to own their professional or retail spaces. Later, Sylvester and his son, Joe Jr., could see that Boardman needed a new area for growth. In 1991, they created Southwestern Place, a 45-acre development at South Avenue and Western Reserve Road. "Western Reserve is the new growth area," said Sylvester Jr., who is the company's chief executive. Almost done Work on Southwestern Place is nearly complete after 15 years. Only four small office lots remain. The development has 95 residential condos, 29 businesses and a new piece — a retail plaza called The Shops at Southwestern Place. The 10,600-square-foot plaza on Western Reserve Road was just completed and has one tenant so far, Theo's Deli. This development led to others in the area for Sylvester Construction. These included Western Reserve Park in Boardman, which has nearly 20 light industrial and commercial businesses; Bev Road Professional Park in Boardman, which has 14 businesses; and Eastgate Commerce Park, an industrial park in North Lima. It also is developing Southpoint, a 45-acre development with 112 homes and a few commercial offices on South Avenue. The development is primarily residential, but Sylvester Construction is only selling the lots, not building the homes. Although the company was founded as a residential construction company, it rarely builds homes today. Both Sylvesters say they prefer to design and build commercial developments, such as Beeghly Oaks and the Surgery Center at Southwoods, both in Boardman. Rick Vernal of RT Vernal Paving and Excavating in North Lima is a partner in the Southpoint and Eastgate developments, while attorney Joe DeSanto is a partner with Southwestern Place. Looking ahead So after decades of spotting trends, what's next for Sylvester Construction? The Sylvesters aren't offering many specific details. "We're always looking," Sylvester Jr. said. He added, however, that he thinks southern Boardman and Beaver Township still have growth potential because of the construction of a new hospital on McClurg Road by St. Elizabeth Health Center. He expects more medical offices to be built near the hospital. One thing that is known about the future of the company is that it will include third-generation family members. Sylvester Jr.'s children, Joey, 22, and Krysta, 20, both work in the business. As their roles expand, their grandfather has no plans to slow down, even at age 77. "I'm still working because I enjoy it, and I have my son doing it with me," Sylvester Sr. said. shilling@vindy.com