Subway restaurant is sending a clear message to the city of Youngstown, which happens also to be its landlord, and to anyone else who might be paying attention.

The restaurant, located in 20 Federal Place, has dug in its heels and seems to be intent on staying put, despite eviction notices and the planned large-scale remediation and demolition project at the downtown building.

The likelihood of the business winning this battle is slim, but we understand the motivation. The situation remains unfortunate for this business, and for many others that rented space in the city-owned 20 Federal Place and then got evicted in a situation that was very poorly handled by Mayor Jamael Tito Brown’s administration.

The city evicted tenants at 20 W. Federal St. with very little notice this summer in order to make way for a project to remove asbestos and other hazardous materials there. Partial demolition of the downtown building was scheduled to start Nov. 7, but now it appears preliminary work may be taking longer than planned, and the work might not get started in earnest for several more weeks.

Nearly 20 downtown Youngstown businesses that operated for years in 20 Federal Place rightfully were distraught over the future of their livelihoods after their landlord terminated their leases and gave them 60 days to vacate. Most tenants were caught off guard when eviction notices were delivered to them July 11 with no prior discussion.

The evictions are necessary to make way for a massive remediation and demolition project at the downtown building, starting with asbestos removal, that will be funded with the help of a $6.96 million Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program grant awarded this summer.

No one doubts that moving these businesses is necessary to enable the critical work to take place.

But what’s most concerning is that the landlord is not some private owner working on a short-term plan. Rather, the landlord is the city of Youngstown, and city leaders have been discussing the work for many months.

Some members of council have expressed dismay over the short notice given to the tenants.

Those council members, including Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, are correct in their admonishment of the apparent lack of planning.

The disregard for the future of these small businesses, indeed, sends a poor message about how Youngstown conducts business.

Many said the very short notice put their businesses in peril.

Since then, however, most have vacated the premises, save for Subway restaurant, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and an internet company with no employees in the space. The city is working with the other two businesses in their attempts to relocate.

Legal action is pending in an attempt to force out Subway.

The need for this construction project is apparent. It’s also clear the city acted within its legal rights. But doesn’t a city where taxpaying small businesses have operated for many, many years deserve better than just meeting minimal legal requirements spelled out in the lease?

We realize Subway restaurant likely will be ultimately forced out of the space. After that, the business might find a similarly good location or it might end up closing its doors. We hope that’s not the case.

In the meantime, we understand the restaurant’s attempt to hunker down and keep operating as long as it can in this overwhelming scenario.

editorial@vindy.com