YOUNGSTOWN — Chase Bank, which has operated a mobile site since its downtown branch was heavily damaged in a May 28 gas explosion at the former Realty Tower, will open a new location next month across the street from its previous spot.

The city’s design review committee on Tuesday approved a request from Chase Bank to install two sets of illuminated signs and logos on the west and south sides of the Stambaugh Building at 44 E. Federal St.

Chase is going to open on the southwest corner of the building, across the street from its previous location at the former Realty Tower.

The Stambaugh Building houses the DoubleTree by Hilton, the city’s only hotel, and Casa di Canzonetta restaurant.

A May 28 gas explosion at the former Realty Tower killed Akil Drake, a Chase employee, and injured nine others. It caused such extensive damage that the 13-story downtown building, which also had 23 apartments, was demolished and forced the closing for months of the nearby Stambaugh Building and International Towers.

A final report by the National Transportation Safety Board on the cause of the explosion that rattled nearby buildings won’t be done until a year or two from the date of the blast.

But an NTSB preliminary report states a four-person scrap-metal crew, engaged by GreenHeart Companies of Boardman — owned by Brian Angelili, managing partner of Realty’s YO Properties 47 LLC — was working in a basement area underneath the building’s sidewalk removing old utility lines when a crew member sawed three times into a pipe mistakenly believing it to not have natural gas in it.

Shortly after the Realty explosion, Chase opened a mobile branch in the parking lot of the Covelli Centre, which remains open and will close right before the opening of the Stambaugh location.

Chase relocated in May 2021 to the much smaller location at Realty after being at 6 W. Federal St., previously known as the Chase Building, for several years.

Huntington Bank had a smaller branch in the Stambaugh Building, relocating there in October 2021. But after the Realty explosion, it never reopened and returned last summer to its original location at 23 Market St. downtown with considerably less space.

POSTPONED VOTE

The design review committee on Tuesday again postponed a vote on a request for a $20,000 facade grant requested by the owner of Quik Mart at 1305 McGuffey Road.

Members again told the building owner that not enough information about the project was provided. It was similar to what members said at the Jan. 7 meeting.

The business is planning a $43,200 project for siding and concrete work; the installation of gutters, downspouts and canopies; and the replacement of its parking lot.

Bobby Singh, who operates Quik Mart, brought a contractor with him to Tuesday’s committee meeting. But they failed to provide building renderings and other project details requested by the committee.

City council in December 2022 approved setting aside $1 million of Youngstown’s $82.7 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the business facade program. It allows eligible companies to receive up to $20,000 each to help pay for the cost of exterior improvements.

In order to get the grants, companies have to obtain permission from the design review committee. Companies must show they are paying at least half of the cost of the work being done.

The facade grants are forgivable loans with a five-year term. Every year a business remains open at its location in the city, 20% of the loan is forgiven until it reaches 100% in five years.

The committee has authorized 53 businesses to receive grants from the program.