Youngstown leaders consider making downtown historic district

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Leaders in Youngstown are discussing the possibility of making downtown an historic district, which would make it easier for building owners to capitalize on Ohio’s program of historic tax credits.

Youngstown City Council’s Community Planning and Economic Development Committee, commonly called CPED, met Tuesday afternoon. Among the items discussed were how to take advantage of downtown’s historic buildings and how to get the State of Ohio to help pay for some of the problems caused by the Realty Tower explosion .

Many buildings in downtown Youngstown are in the 100-year-old range.

“We want to move forward with that. Then it makes it easier for developers, anyone who does business and wants to do business downtown,” said Stephanie Gilchrist, economic development director.

Fourth Ward Councilman Mike Ray questioned if an historic district designation would be good for everyone downtown.

“I would think that if everything has to comply with historic standards, it’s going to be too restrictive,” he said.

That’s a concern city officials are looking into.

“Can we omit certain buildings or can we still be considered a district with certain buildings that may or may not want to be involved with it?” said Chief of Staff Nikki Posterli.

City council may be asked to vote on an historic downtown district next month.

Two blocks from city hall, the removal of debris continues from the Realty Tower demolition following the May explosion.

State Representative Lauren McNally told the committee that since the explosion, she’s looked into getting the city some financial help from the State of Ohio but what she needs is data — lost revenue, lost wages — and exactly what the city wants.

“That is a really big piece to being able to bring those types of funds into the downtown area to help on the recovery side,” McNally said.

Also at the CPED meeting, Finance Director Kyle Miasek said the city is working with two companies to possibly provide income tax grants for what Miasek called “major expansions.” He would not name the companies, but said one already has manufacturing operations in Youngstown and is looking to bring its management into the city.

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