COALBURG LAKE Owners consider developing property

The property was sold last month.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BROOKFIELD -- The picturesque Coalburg Lake property here has been left virtually undisturbed for more than nine decades, but may soon be headed for development.
The 528-acre parcel of land was purchased last month by Coalburg Lake L.L.C. for about $2 million. The property was first placed on the market in January.
Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube acquired the property in 1912, creating the dam and lake to use the water in its steel-making process. The company also used the property for picnics and other recreational functions.
The property was sold to an energy company in the mid-1980s after Youngstown Sheet & amp; Tube closed its doors. No work or development was done on the property during that time.
Tony Pitoscia of O'Brien Real Estate, the selling agent on the property, said the new owners are cleaning the property and taking care of some long-overdue maintenance issues in hopes of bringing the property back to its original state. He said unchecked dumping and littering on the property has left it a mess.
Timothy O'Brien, also of O'Brien Real Estate, said once the cleanup is done, the new owners will have to decide what to do with the property. They are weighing their options, but some type of development is likely, he said.
"They are studying the situation and will make a decision after they take it all in," O'Brien added. "The jury is still out on all of this. It's such a big project, they don't want to rush into anything."
Won't be drained
Rumors, including word of potential logging and draining the lake, have emerged. O'Brien said, while nothing is concrete, it is safe to say the lake will not be drained. Any decisions concerning the property will be a benefit to the surrounding property, he said.
"They are certainly not going to do anything negative with the property," he said. "It is endless what could really happen out there."
Brookfield Trustee Gary Lees said trustees are aware of the sale, and they believe development of the site is likely. The township, in conjunction with neighboring communities, may be in a position to help residents in the area of the property and any potential development of the property.
"Once this is started and development begins, we are looking at getting in touch with Hubbard Township and Hubbard City about helping, not just the developer, but people in the general area with water lines," he said.
Part of the property is located in Hubbard Township; the other half is in Brookfield.
O'Brien said water and sewer lines would go a long way toward the development of the property.
jgoodwin@vindy.com