Youngstown council approves demo of Kress building downtown

YOUNGSTOWN — City council approved an ordinance authorizing the board of control to negotiate and enter a contract with the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. to buy the Kress property.

Council approved the ordinance today, calling for the city to demolish the long-vacant building on West Federal Street, between Phelps and Hazel streets, and use the parcel as a parking lot. Estimated cost is $450,000 and would come from water and wastewater funds.

As part of the deal, the CIC, a a nonprofit property agency run by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, would make improvements to the State Theater property, said Finance Director David Bozanich. The estimate for the CIC’s work on the State Theater property is a couple hundred thousand dollars, he said.

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com