BOARDMAN — Salem-based J. Herbert Construction was picked among 10 firms to prepare the former TCF Bank branch property at Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard for a new coffee and doughnut store.

The Western Reserve Port Authority awarded the $938,000 contract Wednesday for work that includes building a 2,200-square-foot Dunkin’ restaurant and readying the rest of the land for a future retailer.

Also Wednesday, Anthony Trevena, the port authority’s economic development director, announced a historical art installation by well-known American sculptor Saunders Schultz was removed from the building for preservation by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

It’s the second piece of local history saved; the other was a Warren-made Mullins Manufacturing Corp. Youngstown Kitchen set given to the Trumbull County Historical Society.

Construction bids, opened Oct. 15, ranged from J. Herbert’s low amount to $1.2 million from Fred Olivieri Construction Co. in North Canton. Other work at the site includes landscaping, utility connection and storm water management.

Demolition of the former bank, 3900 Market St., is expected to wrap up this week with cleanup next week, said Randy Partika, project manager and development engineer for the port authority. It’s hoped J. Herbert can pour the footers for the building before the weather turns too cold, he said.

J. Herbert will also lay a concrete slab for a potential third tenant. Already, Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank operates an ATM on the property.

Boardman-based Spice Mill Inc. will operate the Dunkin’, making it the 12th the company has in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. The store is expected to open sometime in the first half of 2021. It will have a drive-thru and indoor seating to accommodate 16 to 18 people.

Trevena said the mixed-media art installation depicts a history of homes and recognizes Youngstown’s No. 1 rank in the mid-1950s for home ownership across the U.S. The piece, commissioned by First Federal Bank, is about 35 feet long and 5 feet high.

“It’s an eclectic sculpture that kind of tells the history of homes from caveman days. It evolves into Egyptian times, Colonial times and ends with a small sculpture of abstract work we understand to be the home of the then CEO of the bank,” Trevena said.

The artwork is being stored by YNDC, which intends to install it at some point at the former Carmelite Monastery on Volney Road that YNDC owns near Mill Creek Park.

The port authority acquired the former bank building and 1-acre parcel from Chemical Bank for $10 in January, originally intended to move its offices there, but the space wouldn’t work. The agency showed the building to multiple prospective tenants, but could not find the right fit, so it was decided the port authority would develop the property.

rselak@tribtoday.com