Youngstown, machine shop owner at odds on road extension for YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s attempt to seize and demolish a machine shop under eminent domain for a proposed street extension near Youngstown State University is on the fast track for a magistrate’s decision.

The city seeks to take the Grenga Machine and Welding Co, machine shop and storage facility at 128 W. Rayen Ave. so it can extend Hazel Street in conjunction with Youngstown State University’s new $34.3 million business school. The university broke ground for the new business school this fall.

Magistrate Dennis Sarisky of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court visited and inspected the vicinity of the machine shop immediately following a Wednesday court hearing in the case.

Sarisky said he expects to decide the case early next week. The magistrate invited shop owner Joseph Grenga, who is representing himself, and lawyers for the city to submit to him by 4 p.m. Friday proposed texts of the ruling they think he should make.

Grega has a prominent and influential ally in his battle to keep his property.

YSU trustee and former state Senator Harry Meshel of Youngstown, who was seated on a visitor bench in the courtroom, said after court that the street extension is unnecessary and undesirable.

“I’ve always opposed the indiscriminate use of eminent domain,” Meshel said. “They don’t need more traffic going into the Youngstown State campus. They don’t have room for more traffic to go into Lincoln Avenue,” he said.

Read more in Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com