VIENNA — Downtown Youngstown can have its fun and games until the Western Reserve Port Authority drops the “Boom!”

During its meeting Wednesday morning at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, board members learned of the demolition schedule for the former Eastern Gateway parking deck. The timeline has the shuttered structure being razed starting in September.

“We want to wait until the big festivals in downtown Youngstown are complete,” said Randy Partika, the port’s director of engineering and construction.

Setting aside the normal work week, the downtown streets become crowded during August. Events taking place last year include the Youngstown: Amazing History Race, Youngstown’s Summer Movie Series, the Greater Youngstown Italian Fest, The East End Market, Party on the Lawn and the annual Panerathon.

“We definitely have to wait until that,” Partika said.

The charity-based event, heading into its 17th year, supports the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center and breast cancer patients. The Paneraton features a 10K run and a 2 mile fun run/walk that starts at the Covelli Centre.

“The Panerathon is one of the largest draws to downtown Youngstown of the entire year,” said Anthony Trevena, the authority’s executive director. “So there’s more traffic. We wanted to be after that.”

Partika said the demolition of the approximately 50-year-old deck, estimated to cost $3.5 million, will start in September.

“Hopefully by the middle of December, we’ll complete the demolition,” he said.

Specifics on the project are expected in June with bids opened in July. Partika said the board should plan to award the contract by July 15.

“We’ve had meetings now for several months about the demolition of the parking garage,” Trevena told the board. “This is a real full-court effort to make sure that communication is overcommunicated where we’ve got the city, the county, all the different entities and parties in place.

“We’ve been having regular meetings about how this is all going to roll out, how it’s going to impact the local community.”

Mocha House, the lone tenant of the parking complex, is preparing to move into the nearby Harshman Building. Trevena said he saw the completed lease agreement Wednesday morning.

The port acquired the parking deck and the Harshman Building last year.

Partika said the Mocha House staff will require two months to move into its next quarters.

“We want to get the Mocha House moved across the street by Aug. 1, and then they’re going to have to probably shut down for two weeks when they move their kitchen equipment over and so forth like that,” he said.

“Hopefully, Mocha House can be open by the middle of August.”

Plans for the soon-to-razed site are for the Mahoning County commissioners to construct a $60 million government center. That has not been finalized as of yet.

“Everything is on the table,” Commissioner Geno DiFabio said in January. “No decisions have been made. But the plan is to consolidate county services out of that building.”