Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Four property development businesses that may purchase and improve 20 Federal Place toured the city-owned building Friday.

It was the first of two tours of the West Federal Street building with the other being May 3.

Officials with Steadfast City of St. Louis, the firm hired to redesign the 332,000-square-foot landmark downtown building, are proposing a $34.5 million project that includes apartments with offices along with a bowling alley, bar, malt shop and an improved food court.

June 1 is the deadline for proposals to redevelop 20 Federal Place. The city wants to select a developer and negotiate a sale and agreement by October.

The city purchased the building at 20 W. Federal St. in November 2004 after Phar-Mor, a once prominent national retail store company, went out of business. Before it was the Phar-Mor Centre, the company’s corporate headquarters, it was the location of the Strouss’ department store.

The city has unsuccessfully tried to sell the 95-year-old building a few times since purchasing it.

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