Welcome to the Business Journal Archives
Search for articles below, or continue to the all new BusinessJournalDaily.com now.
Search
Council OKs Buying More Land for Convocation Center
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- City Council approved ordinances last night that pave the way for the city to acquire the remaining land needed for the Youngstown Convocation Center downtown.Council passed legislation authorizing the city's board of control to proceed with relocation assistance for the Giannios Candy Co. and Spectrum Electronics, two tenants housed in the former Goodyear Building along Front Street.The city is scheduled to take possession of the property Aug. 31, and has put up $322,000 for the land and building, reported Jeffrey Chagnot, economic development director. Once the transfer takes place, the city will advertise demolition bids and hire a contractor to raze the structure. The city needs the land to make room for the $41 million center now under construction. Chagnot said the city has been trying to reach a settlement for several months now with John Giannios, who owns the building. When no settlement was reached, the city initiated eminent domain proceedings to acquire the land. Under eminent domain, a government entity can acquire private property without the owner's consent if the land is intended for a public purpose.In return, fair market value as determined by a court is paid to the property owner. The land owners are then entitled to compensation for relocation expenses under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Properties Acquisition Act.Chagnot noted the owners have the choice of taking a $20,000 lump sum to cover the costs, or a $10,000 reimbursement fee and compensation for actual moving costs. Spectrum, he said, has accepted the $20,000 lump sum while Giannios has not decided.The money will be drawn from a $26.8 million federal grant secured for the city by former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant more than four years ago for site acquisition and construction of the convocation center.Council also approved legislation authorizing the board of control to acquire five parcels of land along Front Street now owned by Mahoning County, near the South Avenue bridge. Mahoning County commissioners are expected to approve selling the land to the city for $1.Three years ago, city officials signed an agreement with RSA Co. of Youngstown to purchase 26 acres of former steel mill land between the South Avenue and Market Street bridges along the Mahoning River, the site council selected for the center. Last year, the city, lacking any formal appraisal, paid $1.5 million for the land.When it was determined more land was needed for the project, the city began exploring acquisition of Front Street properties near the Market Street bridge. However, business owners located there vowed a lengthy fight, forcing the city to reconfigure its plan and move the convocation center site further east, closer to the South Avenue bridge and away from the operating businesses.Earlier this year, the city acquired an old service station along Front Street and former railroad property that runs parallel to Front without using eminent domain. The station will also be demolished to make way for the convocation center.Visit the Youngstown Convocation Center project at www.youngstownconvocationcenter.com"