Youngstown issues a third fine to Gatta for Gallagher’s state

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown’s Office of Code Enforcement and Demolition has issued a third and final fine of $1,000 to the Gatta Co. for the state of the Gallagher Building.

The 112-year-old vacant building located at the corner of Hazel and Commerce streets was evaluated by the city for the third time Wednesday. The company has already been fined $100 and $500. Gatta has 30 days to respond to the city before the $1,000 fine is enforced and total fines on the building will equal $1,600.

The Gatta Co. of Niles had not paid or appealed the fines as of Wednesday.

Dominic Gatta III, owner and president of the company, could not be reached to comment on Wednesday.

The next step by the city could be to press criminal charges.

Gatta, which has owned the Gallagher since 2012, had plans to transform it to apartments and a restaurant, but word is the company is now trying to sell the property that has overgrown weeds, and a building with broken windows and graffiti on its exterior.

In its first exterior inspection of the building in July, the city highlighted the sanitation of the property, weeds, rodent shelter, defacement of the property and other violations. The city’s general property maintenance code says “all exterior property and premises shall be maintained free from an unreasonable accumulation of waste, trash, garbage and rubbish” and rat shelter. It also states it’s the responsibility of the owner to restore any markings, including graffiti, on a building. The city says properties should be free from weeds in excess of 8 inches.

If the building sells, the fines will transfer with the sale.

Built in 1904, the Gallagher Building was once home to a wholesale liquor establishment owned by John Gallagher who operated the establishment from 1905 until prohibition in 1920.

The neoclassical building was designed by Owsley and Boucherle, a prominent Youngstown architecture firm.

It was most recently home to Cedar’s Lounge, a popular rock ‘n’ roll bar with live music. The bar relocated in 2013 to the West Side and was renamed Cedars West End.