Board approves funds for asbestos tests

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown’s Board of Control approved $24,000 for asbestos testing for homes before demolition.

The funding will pay for asbestos inspections on 27 to 40 homes, said Charles Shaso, deputy director of public works.

Five areas of the city will be the focus of the testing, said Abigail Brubaker, code official/building and housing specialist. The five areas are Crandall Park North, Garden District, Powerstown, Lincoln Knolls and an area in south Youngstown between South Avenue and Market Street.

“There will be five homes in each area except one, which is a bit larger,” she said.

The homes will be demolished using funds from the city, Brubaker said.

“We should have the money to demolish all of them unless they’re too hot with asbestos,” she said. “Asbestos can greatly increase the cost of demolition.”

The board also approved signing over two Youngstown homes to the Mahoning County Land Bank for demolition.

The land bank has certain areas of the city where it can use its funding to demolish abandoned homes, Brubaker said.

“They have to own the home before they can tear it down,” she said.

William D’Avignon, deputy director of the Youngstown Planning Department, said the homes are on Rutledge Drive in the Lincoln Knolls area of West Youngstown and on Stewart Avenue.