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YOUNGSTOWN - The city's design review committee approved the demolition of the former Eastern Gateway Community College to make way for a $60 million centralized Mahoning County government center.
The committee on Tuesday gave permission to the Western Reserve Port Authority, which is handling the project, to demolish the building and parking deck and install fencing around the perimeter not only during demolition, but for its future construction.
Randy Partika, WRPA's director of engineering and construction, said demolition would start Nov. 15 and be finished by next April. Also, design work on the new project by BSHM Architects of Youngstown should be done in August 2027 with construction starting a month later and finishing in May 2029. The WRPA board will award the construction contract on Oct. 21, Partika said.
Partika said he expects to show conceptual drawings of the government center no later than January to the committee.
Andy Resnick, WRPA spokesman who has the same role with the city, said at Tuesday's meeting: "We're taking a massive vacant property and converting it into a hub of activity for downtown. It's going to be a new government center. We're expecting 400-plus employees. We're going to have a new parking deck with 300-plus spaces."
When the project is finished, the county will relocate some of its agencies and departments to the government center, though a final decision on which ones will move there hasn't been determined.
A number of county agencies now housed at Oakhill Renaissance Place on the city's South Side - but not the board of elections, which is getting a new home at the former Williamson School - will likely move to the centralized county center.
There will be street closings and restrictions during the demolition phase.
South Champion Street, between East Boardman and East Federal streets, will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. East Federal Street, between South Champion and South Walnut streets, will be open to vehicle traffic with pedestrian traffic limited to the north side of the street. East Boardman Street, between South Champion and South Walnut streets, will stay open to vehicle traffic with pedestrian traffic limited to the south side. South Walnut Street, between East Boardman and East Federal streets, will be open to northbound traffic only with pedestrian traffic limited to the east side.
The parking deck was closed a few years ago because of its poor condition. Eastern Gateway closed in September 2025, but instruction ended in the summer of 2024 when the college was dissolved.
FACADE GRANTS
The committee on Tuesday approved recommending a $20,000 facade grant for Angelilli Industries LLC, 107 N. Hine St., and a $4,390 facade grant for His and Hers Barber and Beauty LLC, 121 E. Rayen Ave.
Angelilli is planning a $43,725 project, which includes repairing or replacing six garage doors, fixing the exterior siding and painting.
His and Hers want to install an exterior heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit. The total cost is $8,780.
With these projects, the design review committee has authorized 68 businesses to receive grants from the facade grant program.
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 their location in the city, 20% of the loan is forgiven until it reaches 100% in five years.