Downtown Youngstown property agency wants to have a structure built at a vacant downtown location

By David Skolnick | July 1, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

A downtown property agency is seeking a partner to build a structure on West Federal Street that’s been a fenced-in hole since 2008.

“We’re looking for an opportunity,” said Dave Kosec, project manager for the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. “It can be office space, apartments, a store. There are many possibilities. People have expressed interest over the past two years.”

The hole is the former site of the Armed Forces Building and the State Theatre. All that stands is the facade of the latter building.

Kosec said after Tuesday’s CIC annual board of directors meeting that “over the next six months, we’re going to take a hard look at what we can do with that location and decide what makes economic sense.”

Any plans for the location are on hold until Strollo Architects finishes its work on the Wells Building at 201 W. Federal St. The hole is just east of that structure. Those working on the Wells project are using the hole for vehicles and construction equipment. That project is supposed to be done in September.

Turning the vacant location into a parking lot is something the CIC has discussed over the years.

But Kosec said Tuesday that “unless we strike out, the parking lot is our fall-back option.”

During the demolition of the two structures seven years ago, the CIC saved the facade of the State Theatre.

Depending on the project, the CIC is open to either keeping the facade, removing some of the back of it or demolishing it, Kosec said.

“Everything depends on the cost and viability of a project,” he said. “We have a challenge to find the right fit.”