Council to consider support for study

Some members of council don't support city funding for the project at this time.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- City council will consider a resolution today to support a study recommending Hazel Street be extended to create a link between downtown and Youngstown State University.
The study, conducted for 33,000 by MS Consultants, recommends Hazel Street between Commerce and West Wood streets be rebuilt with an easterly curve so it can directly connect with the proposed Hazel extension on the north side of Wood to Lincoln Avenue.
The resolution is expected to receive the support of six of the seven members of council, said Carmen S. Conglose Jr., deputy director of the city's public works department.
Council members Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, and Carol Rimedio Righetti, D-4th, said they'll vote for a resolution to support the study. But they said they have no intention at this time to provide any city funding for the extension of Hazel Street.
Another study is needed to determine a cost estimate for extending the street, Conglose said.
Councilman Rufus Hudson, D-2nd, opposes it.
"I haven't seen anything that shows this [street extension] is necessary," he said. "I haven't been persuaded by anyone showing me it's necessary. There isn't enough traffic on the nearby existing street to build another street. It's an unnecessary street. That's my concern."
Reason behind extension plan
YSU wants Hazel Street extended because it plans to build a 30 million College of Business Administration on West Wood, Phelps and Hazel streets. The building would host business seminars and symposiums and would provide a link to develop a stronger tie between YSU and the city's downtown, Conglose said.
Conglose had organized a meeting Monday with members of council, but it was canceled because only four of the seven members could attend. If any questions need to be answered, Conglose said he could do so at today's council meeting or before it at council's finance committee meeting.
To build the extension, the city would have to acquire Grenga Machine & amp; Welding Co. on West Rayen Avenue. Joseph Grenga, its owner, has said he has no interest in selling the property.
Also, YSU doesn't have a deal with the Cherol family, which owns the property the university wants for its business college.
Conglose and Mayor Jay Williams said canceling Monday's meeting was not to avoid hearing complaints by Grenga and some other business owners in that area about the study.
The city held a public hearing last month on the extension proposal and also permitted people to submit written opinions on the project.
"We've heard all the criticism," Conglose said.
skolnick@vindy.com