Riverside Square in Warren going vacant in a few weeks

WARREN — The trustee appointed to handle the bankruptcy case involving Riverside Square, the former St. Joseph Hospital building, says the building will be vacant by later this month or October.

Atty. Andrew Suhar of Youngstown, appointed trustee for the case in February, said he encouraged the last of the building’s tenants to relocate and is hopeful that the 240,000-square-foot facility will be easier to market once it is empty.

With the departure of the Trumbull County Republican Party earlier this month, there is only one organization, Safe House, still using the facility on Tod Avenue Northwest.

The Veteran’s Administration uses a renovated separate building at the site for a clinic.

Safe House, a private, faith-based residential treatment facility designed to help children age 12 to 17 develop a purpose for their lives, has continued its operations despite an order by the Warren Fire Department that it have around-the-clock fire monitoring because of the antiquated fire alarm system in the building.

Robert Denen, a pastor who runs the facility, could not be reached to discuss its future.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.