Group drops building project

Another downtown redevelopment proposal is making progress.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- An organization wanting to transform a vacant downtown building into a sports museum and bar withdrew its proposal after striking out on raising enough money for the venture.
The Youngstown Arts and Entertainment District Association wanted to buy and renovate the former Kress Building on West Federal Street between Phelps and Hazel streets. The building is owned by the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp., a downtown property redevelopment agency.
Association officials had expressed concerns about the renovation and construction costs, estimated at 2.5 million, since it proposed the idea to the CIC about a year ago.
Jeffrey A. Kurz, the entertainment association's legal counsel, faxed a letter Tuesday to the CIC "formally withdrawing our bid" on the redevelopment project.
In the letter, Kurz wrote that the association received "soft commitments" of money that represented "a significant amount," but it "fell well short" of the 2.5 million.
At a property committee meeting Tuesday, CIC officials expressed disappointment that the project won't work out.
While one downtown redevelopment project failed, another is progressing.
Another project
The Sweet Jenny Land Co. informed the CIC property committee that it had finalized a loan, of about 200,000, from Sky Bank for the redevelopment of the former John R. Davis Building on West Federal Street, just east of the Downtown Draught House. The company plans to spend about 330,000 to renovate the building.
The company asked the property committee for a 30-day extension on its exclusivity on the building to finalize a few items, including a purchase agreement with the CIC. Jan Seidler, CIC president, asked the property committee to recommend a 90-day extension to the full CIC board for adoption at its meeting next Tuesday.
If the company needs a little more time, the extension would permit that, he said. The property committee agreed with the 90-day extension.
Sweet Jenny, consisting of three local architects, wants to relocate its firm to the building's second floor. The top floor of the three-story structure would be used as an art studio with one of the three principals also living there. The company plans to lease the first floor.
The property committee also recommended that the full board hire Brenda L. Williams of Youngstown for up to 44,640 to oversee the construction and design of the Taft Technology Center.
The CIC executive committee threw out all six proposals last week to design and construct the center, located on West Federal Street between the Youngstown Business Incubator and the former Semple Building. The bids were rejected because they were for more money than the CIC has to construct the center and/or didn't address all the provisions in the request for proposal.
A second and updated proposal should be ready in two to three weeks, CIC officials said.
skolnick@vindy.com