Get rid of the rusted scaffolding

By Bertram de Souza (Contact)

Want to know what the owners of a prime office building in the center of downtown Youngstown think about the community? Just look at the scaffolding that surrounds the building at the corner of Wick Avenue and Commerce Street.

That eyesore has been in place for two years — and it’s possible that it, along with additional sections, will be around for another year.

Why? Because Park South Development Co. LLC isn’t in any hurry to replace the granite exterior. Two large pieces of granite fell 40 feet to the sidewalk in 2005. In the summer of 2008, the scaffolding went up after Park South admitted to city government that there had been a problem with the facade.

In September 2009, after the company had done some work to the exterior to secure the tile, company officials said the scaffolding would be removed soon because $1 million was being spent to improve the exterior. The nine-story building houses PNC Bank.

And yet, the eyesore is still there — a reflection of the respect Park South has for Youngstown. The irony of the situation was captured in a picture published on the front page of last Wednesday’s Vindicator. It showed the scaffolding, a clock and a banner that reads, “Entrepreneur Magazine — A Top 10 City For New Business.”

But if building’s owner is guilty of the sin of commission, the administration of Mayor Jay Williams is guilty of the sin of omission — not cracking down on South Park. It should not matter that the building’s owner is embroiled in a legal dispute with its insurance company. That has nothing to do with the city.

Contrast

And lest anyone argue that scaffolding is not meant to be pleasing to the eye, the photographs at the bottom of this column show the contrast between pretty and ugly. Indeed, a Google search for “Best scaffolding” shows that appearances do matter to building owners who care.

What’s the story behind Park South? The Youngstown company’s parent, Pan Brothers Associates, is based in New York City (which may explain why Youngstown is being treated like a country bumpkin), and bought the former National City Bank Building in February 2005. Park South co-owns about a dozen buildings in downtown Youngstown with companies owned by Lou Frangos of Cleveland. The bank building isn’t one of them.

So, what should be done with the eyesore? Mayor Williams must let Park South know that if the scaffolding is to be up for any further length of time, he expects a structure that is attractive. Here are some ideas: Get rid of the rust and paint the webbing black; replace the unattractive industrial lighting; wrap the scaffolding with colorful banners that proclaim Park South’s commitment to the city of Youngstown.

Frangos’ presence in downtown Youngstown is hard to ignore. He has a lot of grandiose ideas for the buildings he owns, but has been slow to act. He also has been securing taxpayer dollars to help pay for the renovation of the buildings.

However, there is one high rise that should be on city government’s radar: The historic Stambaugh Building, which is across the street from the PNC Bank building. A couple years ago, Frangos was forced to replace the windows because of falling glass and gaping holes. The community rose up in arms over the lack of attention to the edifice, but since the replacement of the windows there does not seem to have been any major work undertaken.

What does Frangos have planned for it? What has been done since the flap over the windows? Does he have a time frame for renovating the building and pursuing new tenants?

The idea of Stambaugh being allowed to deteriorate should prompt Mayor Williams to have a meeting with the owner of so many prime pieces of real estate in downtown Youngstown and find out what he intends to do with his holdings.

Frangos keeps insisting that he has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to make repairs and address structural problems with the buildings he owns. He should be required to present receipts to the public to prove that he is putting his money where his mouth is. Last week’s decision by city council to go along with the administration’s proposal to buy the now decrepit Paramount Theater from Frangos raises questions about his commitment.