Youngstown buys old Paramount Theatre building

YOUNGSTOWN

The city decided to buy a dilapidated downtown building and give the go-ahead to have major improvement work done to another downtown structure.

In a somewhat surprising move, city council voted Wednesday to buy the former Paramount Theater on the corner of West Federal and North Hazel streets for $80,000.

The move came a month after a majority of council members refused to buy the building.

The concern of those members was the liability of owning a structure in need of anywhere from $400,000 to $750,000 worth of asbestos abatement and demolition costs.

The city will seek money from the state’s Clean Ohio fund to pay for that work, Mayor Jay Williams said.

For the full story on the deal and plans for the property, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.