Demolition of State Theatre is back on track

The original deadline for razing the former cinema and nightclub passed.

Staff Report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. didn’t anticipate the couple of hiccups that arose during demolition of the State Theatre.

Demolition was originally scheduled to be complete Dec. 15, but it will continue for the remainder of the year, said Lynn-Marie Popa, the CIC’s facilities supervisor.

Crews working on the building are doing what they call “cherry-picking,” said Popa.

It’s a one-brick-at-a-time method that is necessary because crews discovered that the west wall of the building was not stabilized by steel beams.

The west wall touches the Morley Building, which houses Ballet Western Reserve and the Oakland Center for the Arts. Caution is required to prevent damage to the neighboring structure, said Popa.

The CIC also didn’t realize how much steel was inside the theater, she said.

Though the tail end of the project has been slow-moving, the gradual process ensures the safety of surrounding buildings and the crews working on the State.

The theater demolition is part of the Tech Block project, which is a multimillion-dollar project being implemented by the CIC. The Tech Block aims to create a section of West Federal that will act as the future home for thriving technology companies.

Boardman Street between Hazel Street and Vindicator Square will remain closed because of the demolition.

The posted detour for Boardman Street eastbound will be Vindicator Square to Front Street to Hazel Street. The posted detour for Boardman Street westbound will be Hazel Street to Federal Street to Vindicator Square.