Businesses must make way for county offices

WARREN -- All of the tenants in the Park-Porter Building, 280 N. Park Ave., have until the end of this year to vacate except the Veteran's Service Commission office.
At the Trumbull County commissioners regular meeting Wednesday, commissioners voted to buy the building for $699,500, and closing on the sale will take place Friday, said County Administrator Tony Carson Jr.
The county will renovate the space and use it for the Department of Job and Family Services and its One-Stop job training facility. The Veteran's Service Commission, which is a county agency, will remain in the office area it now occupies, Carson said.
JFS is now on South Park Avenue, and One-Stop is on West Market Street.
Commissioners Paul Heltzel and Dan Polivka have differed on the amount that the renovation will cost. Heltzel said it would be around $3 million, and Polivka estimated it would be between $4 and $6 million.
Among the 14 or 15 current tenants of Park-Porter are Trumbull Mobile Meals and several law offices.
David Zofko, the county's chief building official, said the renovation is expected to begin in early 2007 and take nine to 12 months