Hazards at Mahoning County Courthouse threaten public safety

By PETER H. MILLIKEN

milliken@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Some $10 million in federal stimulus money is being sought for a restoration project designed to ensure public safety and extend the life of the century-old Mahoning County Courthouse.

Restoration architect Robert Mastriana told the county commissioners last week he has made the initial application to state officials for federal money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The 18- to 24-month project could employ up to 200 workers, he said.

“The county is not really in a position to finance this,” said George J. Tablack, county administrator.

“This is a 100-year-old historical building. I do not know how we would not be eligible for money from the federal government,” said Anthony T. Traficanti, chairman of the county commissioners.

Mastriana presented to the commissioners a thorough report from an exterior facade investigation conducted last summer by his 4M Co. of Boardman and by AmeriSeal Restoration of Cleveland, during which the examiners inspected the building from a high-lift.

“It’s critical to get on this,” because of some extreme hazards to public safety, Mastriana told the commissioners.

The report divides the project into four prioritized phases concerning the courthouse and a fifth phase concerning the adjacent 54-year-old county administration building, which housed the county jail until the new jail opened in 1996.

The $1.6 million first- priority phase includes replacement of the 22 severely deteriorated roof beams that support the granite and concrete bases of the statues atop the front of the courthouse.

This phase also includes rehabilitation of the statue support structure and repair of the three copper statues: women representing justice and law; and a man representing strength and authority.

A laser survey shows the statue base has shifted outward over the building’s front by more than a half-inch since last September and will eventually fall, Mastriana’s report said.

“This ultimate collapse to the ground below will risk the probable loss of life and property to anyone or anything that is in the line of fall,” the report said.

County officials have cordoned off both sides of the courthouse colonnade at the main entrance as a precaution in case of falling stone.

Two precariously perched 800-pound overhanging granite cornerstones were removed last year from the top of that colonnade because they had shifted due to corroding carbon-steel anchoring pins. Those stones are in a perimeter pit in front of the courthouse.

The building’s cornerstone was laid in 1908, and it opened in 1911. When the courthouse was built, only carbon steel was available, Mastriana said. “Today, we have stainless steel that doesn’t rust,” he observed.

Some $6.7 million of priority two repairs will include the reinstallation of the two removed stones using noncorroding anchor pins, roof replacement, balcony waterproofing, copper-gutter modifications and replacement of terra-cotta balustrades and cornices. Terra cotta is molded clay brick or block.

The $825,911 third priority classification of repairs will include building cleaning, pigeon-control measures, masonry repairs, painting and granite step rehabilitation.

The $456,836 fourth priority category includes interior repairs, sidewalk repairs and landscaping.

The $353,459 fifth priority category involves installation of expansion joints to correct severe horizontal bowing of the administration building’s south wall, which the report says could collapse. That phase also includes roof replacement on that building, with installation of more and larger roof drains to eliminate ponding of water.

PROPOSED COURTHOUSE REHAB BUDGET

A breakdown of how the $10 million in federal stimulus funding being sought would be used to restore the Mahoning County Courthouse.

Priority one: Statue removal, repair, and installation, statue support structure rehabilitation, $1,691,297.

Priority two: Balustrade and cornice replacements, replacement before statues, granite corner stones, copper gutter modification, baluster and cap rail treatment, balcony waterproofing, roof replacement, light well and elevator shaft repairs and brick work, $6,786,040

Priority three: Sealants, pigeon control, building cleaning, general masonry repairs and pointing, painting, granite step rehabilitation, $825,911

Priority four: Interior repairs, paver rehabilitation and landscaping, miscellaneous repairs, $456,836

Priority five: Administration Building repairs, $353,459

Total budget: $10,113,543

Source: 4M Co., Boardman