Cost to repair Newton Falls Community Center: $1.7 million

April 11, 2016 at 9:24p.m.

NEWTON FALLS

Residents of Newton Falls heard a long presentation Monday on the problems at the village community center: black mold, a “serious and life-threatening” electrical problem and need for repair or replacement of nearly every part of the building.

Denise Holt, a Youngstown architect, only described a few items that didn’t need replaced or repaired and said the total to fix 35 problem areas is $1.7 million.

Because the problems are so extensive, Law Director A. Joseph Fritz stated his opinion that the facility, built in 1942, would be too unsafe to reopen without repairs.

The village closed it at the end of last year, citing defects.

Holt worked with DeSalvo Construction of Hubbard to provide village officials with an estimate of the cost to replace the facility: $2.17 million.

When the presentation in council chambers was over, resident Keith Capirano seemed to be speaking for many in the audience when he expressed his frustration.

“The assessment tonight is very disturbing. I don’t think anybody knew how bad it was,” he said.