Youngstown council mulls building purchase

YOUNGSTOWN -- A Fifth Avenue apartment building will likely meet the same fate as three neighboring properties to the north that were demolished last month.
City council will consider legislation Wednesday that would authorize the city to buy an apartment building at 204 Fifth Ave. between Wood Street and Rayen Avenue. The property is just south of three homes demolished in April.
A sale price of 90,000 has been negotiated with property owner CV, LLC. Funds will be drawn from the city's industrial land acquisition account, according to a letter from Economic Development Director Jeffrey Chagnot.
The city plans to demolish the building, making room for development from Youngstown State University or the city, said Mayor Jay Williams.
"We are purchasing this property because we want to use it and the three others in a productive way," he said.
Ron Cole, a spokesman for Youngstown State University, said the university has no immediate plans to develop the property just west of its border, though it applauds the beautification effort.