CIC officials reviewing mission

Of the 12 properties held by the CIC, only three are seen as potential development sites.

BY ANGIE SCHMITT

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite the national real estate pinch, it’s a seller’s market in downtown Youngstown, officials with the Community Improvement Corporation say.

As development and demolition eat away at the central city’s remaining vacant properties, committee members from the 20-year-old downtown development nonprofit say it may be time to reassess the CIC’s mission.

“It’s turned a corner,” said Dave Kosec, CIC project manager. “CIC has a few properties, and used to have 25 properties. There have been so many buildings taken down or renovated, there’s only a few left.”

Of the 12 buildings the CIC controls, only three are seen as potential development sites, said administrative assistant Lynn-Marie Popa. No buildings owned by the nonprofit development group are available to perspective buyers, she said.

CIC legal counsel Ed Romero suggested a philosophical discussion about the CIC’s future. Since 1988, the CIC has served as a nonprofit, boosting development in downtown Youngstown.

“The market is starting to change, where the buyers are there — and they’re looking for sellers,” he said. “We think some things have changed and maybe we ought to re-evaluate some former assumptions.”

For board member Richard Pavlock, the disappearance of nusiance properties is a tribute to the board and its accomplishments.

“If we sold all our property and put ourselves our of business, that wouldn’t be all that bad,” he said, “because that means we were super-successful.”

Also at Tuesday’s Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corporation property committee meeting:

UThe committee moved to recommend repairing the roof at 107 West Federal St., known as the “Two Guys” building. The project is estimated to cost between $22,000 and $45,000. Committee members hope the repair will preserve the building.

“I think this [building] is an asset,” said Pavlock. “Somewhere down the line, we’ll have a safety issue if we don’t get it secured.”

UThe committee is recommending the CIC board open bidding on the demolition of the Armed Forces Building and the State Theater, as part of phase III of its Tech Block project.

aschmitt@vindy.com