Mayor’s goal: 500 vacant houses demolished


June 7, 2012 at 12:24p.m.

Mayor’s goal: 500 vacant houses demolished

YOUNGSTOWN — Between now and the time he leaves office on Dec. 31, 2013, Mayor Charles Sammarone wants 500 vacant residential structures demolished.

The Dec. 31, 2013, date isn’t just Sammarone’s last day as mayor, it’s also the deadline for work to be done from those receiving money from an Ohio attorney-general demolition program.

The city will get at least $500,000 of Mahoning County’s $1.53 million allocation from that program. Also, the city has set aside $1 million for demolition work.

The board of control voted today to hire CT Consultants of Youngstown to oversee asbestos testing, construction inspection and be the city’s administrator of residential demolitions.

Also today, the board hired William “Guy” Burney, born in Youngstown and now living in Campbell, to serve as coordinator of the city’s new Community Initiative to Reduce Violence [CIRV].

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com