WRAP buys land on West Market

Staff report

WARREN

The Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corp. on Thursday announced a purchase of 4.9 acres on West Market Street along the Mahoning River for future development.

“It’s a key area, and it’s a blank slate,” said Tony Iannucci, director of WRAP. “It’s 4.9 acres of nothing. Our hope is that we can develop some market-rate housing, whether it be condos or apartments and have it be more of a commercial-mixed setting.”

The space, formerly occupied by Martin Chevrolet, was purchased for $375,000 from Paul Martin, Inc.

Iannucci said the plan during the next few months is to clean up the 22 parcels on the north- and southbound sides of the street, extend the downtown- design guidelines, adjust zoning to permit mixed-used development and prepare requests for proposals for potential developers.

“In the downtown area, we have the historic district and have design guidelines,” Iannucci said.

“Once you cross Main Street, you’re just into the regular building codes. We want to make sure it’s compatible with the downtown district.”

WRAP had worked to acquire the property since 2006, and it believes it will help transform the “peninsula” area of town, which is the west entrance point to downtown.