YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s design review committee recommended the approval of a facade grant for improvements and additions to a parking lot on South Avenue, even though one member anticipates space issues.

The committee recommended the grant’s approval to the Western Reserve Chapter of Independent Electrical Contractors for its location at 2017 South Ave.

The IEC is planning to spend $19,964 to improve its 29-space parking lot and add a 12-space parking lot addition. The grant would be for $9,982.

But Charles Shasho, a committee member and the city’s deputy director of public works, said the layout of the parking lot extension would make it nearly impossible to fit 12 cars because there isn’t enough space for vehicles to back out.

“There’s no way you’re going to get 12 spots there,” he said. “It’s not going to function very well as a parking lot. Cars won’t be able to back out.”

He suggested IEC either make the spots wider or just use one side, which would cut the number of spaces in half.

There also were questions about whether the addition would require a stormwater management plan, but it was determined the size of the project is slightly under the minimum space requirement for a stormwater management plan.

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 50% of the cost, 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.

With this project, the committee has authorized 58 businesses to receive grants from the program.

Also Tuesday, the committee approved an updated mural on the west side of the seven-story Erie Terminal Place, 112 W. Commerce St.

At its Aug. 4 meeting, the committee deferred a vote, asking for changes to the mural because it looked more like advertising than art.

The initial mural had the building’s website address on it and had a white background on the brick building.

The updated mural shows the front of a train with the words, “Erie Terminal Place” at the top and the building’s address to the right of the train design.

“I like this much better than the other one,” Shasho said. “It’s not an advertising billboard. It’s more of a mural.”