YOUNGSTOWN — The city wants to demolish the former Anthony’s on the River building, which was purchased in February 2019 for redevelopment that never occurred.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown is sponsoring legislation for city council’s Wednesday meeting to allow the board of control to spend up to $48,000 to tear down the downtown building as an emergency demolition.

But Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, who represents downtown, wants the city to wait with the hopes of finding another buyer for the building at 15 Oak Hill Ave., next to Spring Common Bridge, on 2.1 acres.

“I’m in favor of getting rid of a dilapidated building, but I want to see if someone can save it,” Oliver said. “Once you tear it down, that property can’t be saved. I’d like to see someone step forward, but if it’s a health hazard, I understand the issue.”

Two Bridges LLC, operated by Ronald Eiselstein, purchased the building for $100,000 on Feb. 20, 2019. The plan was to use the building for a restaurant, offices and housing.

But the project hasn’t moved forward, and the property is in poor condition.

“Eiselstein purchased the property with great expectations and nothing happened,” Oliver said.

There is orange plastic fencing surrounding the front of the building with large concrete slabs and overgrown trees and bushes on the property. Only a metal frame remains where the restaurant’s awning used to hang.

Patrick Kerrigan, head of the Oak Hill Collaborative, an organization that helps development in that area, initially lent his support to the project.

“I felt it was important to do something with that property, but (Eiselstein) has refused to do anything with it,” he said. “I’m very disappointed it’s going to come down and that nothing constructive was done with it. I tried to work with Eiselstein, and he wasn’t responsive.”

Attempts Friday to reach Eiselstein for comment were unsuccessful.

Over the years, his business ventures have led to clashes with city officials.

He grew large Malaysian prawns in ponds on the city’s East Side in violation of the zoning code, he was convicted of harvesting timber without a permit and has owned properties that the city demolished because they were in poor condition.

The Oak Hill Avenue building was constructed in 1910, After a number of uses, it opened in 1997 as Anthony’s on the River. It was a popular restaurant for a while, especially with downtown workers and Mahoning Valley politicians, but closed about a decade later.

In recent years, the property is probably best known as a place to park for free for those working downtown.

dskolnick@tribtoday.com