Tax abatement sought for downtown hotel

Tax abatement sought for downtown hotel

YOUNGSTOWN

Dominic Marchionda of NYO Property Group. is seeking approval of a tax abatement from the Youngstown City Schools on his venture to build a hotel downtown. The abatement is worth about $4.6 million.

NYO Property Group plans to convert the historic Stambaugh Building, 44 E. Federal St., into a DoubleTree Hilton hotel by December 2017.

T. Sharon Woodberry, director of community development and special planning for the city of Youngstown, recommended the school board approve a 15-year tax abatement of 100 percent. A 100 percent abatement requires board approval. She also presented options for a 15-year abatement at 75 percent or a 10-year abatement at 75 or 100 percent.

“Particularly with projects of this size, the margins are thin,” Woodberry said. “These tools are kind of what pushes the project over the edge.” Woodberry asked the board to make a decision before city council’s next session Sept. 21.

Road closing

VIENNA

King Graves Road, between Sodom Hutchings Road and state Route 193, will be closed through Dec. 31 for utility pole upgrades being performed by Ohio Edison. The recommended detour route is south on Sodom Hutchings Road, west on state Route 82 and north on state Route 193.

Civil Service results

WARREN

The Warren Civil Service Commission will hear challenges Sept. 16 to the results of the civil-service exam given recently for captain at the Warren Fire Department.

There is one open captain’s position now, but there will be as many as three in the future, said Ken Nussle, Warren fire chief.

The commission, which met Tuesday, also approved a change to the civil-service rules to no longer require paramedic certification for future hires in the fire department.

The requirement was added when the department received a $4.9 million grant in 2010 to hire and retain firefighters, but the department never started a paramedic program, so the requirement is no longer necessary, Nussle said.

OVI arraignment

BOARDMAN

A couple of township women were arraigned Tuesday before Judge Joseph M. Houser at the Mahoning County Area Court on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired.

Police pulled over Melanie Ditchey, 53, of Stadler Court, on Southern Boulevard at 8:42 p.m. Monday for swerving. A breath-analysis test registered her blood alcohol content of 0.241 percent, three times as much as the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Police pulled over Leslie Albanese, 34, of Green Bay Drive, on Glenwood Avenue at 11:40 p.m. Monday for reckless driving. She failed the field-sobriety tests and refused to have take a breath test.

Assault charges

WARREN

Adam N. White, 32, of Deerfield and Ravenna, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault, falsification, obstructing official business and resisting arrest Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court after a Monday night incident on Youngstown Road in which he ran from police.

He is in the Trumbull County Jail, not eligible to make bond.

Police said White was in a car with a female near the Big Apple Supermarket, 1650 Youngstown Road, at 7:34 p.m., and his story as to why he was there wasn’t adding up, police said. He gave false information to police about his identity, then fled on foot. During a struggle with a police officer, White struck the officer in the face. White was taken to jail on the new charges and on warrants.

Special meeting set

WARREN

The purpose of an 11 a.m. special meeting of the Trumbull County commissioners today will be to pass legislation prohibiting the use of medical marijuana by county employees, says 21 WFMJ-TV, The Vindicator’s broadcast partner.

Ohio became the 25th state to legalize medical marijuana earlier this year.

The law allows use of the drug when prescribed by a doctor for people with various qualifying conditions including AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD and chronic or severe pain.

Lowellville ordinance

LOWELLVILLE

Lowellville Village Council will have an ordinance meeting at 6 p.m. today on the second floor of city hall, 140 E. Liberty St. The purpose of the meeting is to review pending ordinances.

Rape reported

WARREN

A female, 15, of Pennsylvania, reported Saturday afternoon being raped at the Riverview Motel, 3060 Parkman Road NW on Saturday. Police investigated, and Trumbull County Children Services was contacted. Police took possession of some clothing and towed the suspect’s vehicle, police said.