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Struthers residents not sold on store
The store is set to open in July.
STRUTHERS — Neighbors are protesting the reopening of a store on Center Street, but the city law director says there is no legal standing to stop it.
The building at 293 Center St. has been a store for at least 50 years, Safety Service Director Ed Wildes said at city council’s meeting Wednesday.
Mike Tanoukhi, a Boardman businessman, is remodeling the store with the expectation of opening it July 1. He said it will be a convenience store with a deli.
The building has been vacant for 17 months though, residents said, and they believe a city zoning ordinance requires it to revert back to a residential property. That ordinance, which Wildes had asked law director Carol Clemente Wagner to review, states a property that has been vacant for one year won’t keep its nonconforming status.
The property is zoned Residence B, which allows smaller multifamily apartment buildings.
Residents also said they should have the right to vote on whether the property should become residential once again or remain commercial.
Wildes said the building has been a store for at least 50 years, and it may have even been one before the ordinance was adopted.
Clemente Wagner said in a written opinion that the building has continuously been used as a store.
“Therefore, the issue of the building ceasing its ‘nonconforming use’ does not apply as the building has either operated or been for sale as a commercial store consistently since it was built,” she said.
Wildes said that if he were to go against the opinion of the law director, he would put the city in legal jeopardy.
Councilman Robert Burnside, who represents the 3rd Ward where the neighborhood is located, also said the city abides by the law director’s opinion.
“So I’m not sure what I can do next for you guys,” he said.
“I believe we should have that right to vote,” said Vicki Balogh. “This is our city.”
Tanoukhi said the store will be a clean establishment with “no shady activity.”
“It was an eyesore before,” he said. “We remodeled the whole store.”
“It’s going to be good for the neighborhood,” he said. “Someone can walk to the store and get a pound of meat or cheese.”
He said he will employ people from Struthers.
“The issue is not about what’s going in there, it’s about our bylaws,” said Balogh. “We have rules and we’ve got to follow them,” she said.
“I want the right to vote,” said neighbor Betty Carabbia after the meeting.
“He comes in on our turf and tells us what to do. It isn’t right,” she said.