Group seeks to renovate building

YOUNGSTOWN — Plans are moving forward for three architects seeking to buy and renovate a long-vacant Federal Street building.

A committee of the Community Improvement Corp. — the property’s current owner — gave its recommendation to the Sweet Jenny Land Co.’s proposal Tuesday.

The company plans to invest $332,000 in renovating the John R. Davis building, next to the Downtown Draught House. The building has been vacant for more than 20 years, said the committee’s acting president Reid Dulberger.

“We love to see private investment in downtown,” he said, adding that Sweet Jenny is located downtown. “They are the kind of technical, knowledge-intense building we think really compliments the downtown.”

The company introduced its plan to board members in March.

It plans to headquarter Ronald C. Faniro Architect Inc. on the building’s second floor, renovating the third floor into a living-working quarters for one architect. The first floor may serve as retail space, he said.

Dulberger said, after reviewing the plan in detail, the committee was enthusiastic about the project.

“We think their plan is very pragmatic and practical,” he said. “We think it’s going to be beautiful.”

The CIC board will take the committee’s recommendation into consideration when it makes its final determination about the sale at noon Tuesday.

The CIC and Sweet Jenny have tentatively agreed to a sale price based on an appraisal by Sky Bank, the company’s lender, said Dulberger.