Warren demolition will make way for new downtown development

WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) — A building in Warren that leaders say is an eyesore will be torn down, making way for a potential $140 million development project.

Trumbull County Land Bank (TCLB) announced Thursday that it has received a $6.3 million grant for commercial building demolition countywide, with 34 properties in Warren targeted.

One of the most prominent to be taken down is the Reeves Building on Market Street in what is known as The Peninsula in historic downtown. The building is vacant and creates a health and safety concern, according to city leaders. Warren Mayor Doug Franklin said the property has had four owners in the past few years, but they offered empty promises.

“They came to the city to tell us about great plans for renovating the building, but no progress was ever made,” Franklin said.

In 2020, a developer had plans to turn the building into high-end apartment s and before that a recovery center. Neither came through.

With grant money in play, Warren City will only have to come up with 25% of the demolition costs for the 34 structures targeted. TCLB said the city has already earmarked $1 million for the demolitions.

In their application for the grant, Land Bank leaders wrote that the demolition of the Reeves Building will be the last of a series of commercial properties to be demolished in the area. Over the past 10 years, $30 million in private and public projects have been spent in the downtown area.

“The city has been accumulating and clearing the 25 acres that comprise the Peninsula area for more than 30 years. With the State’s assistance, we will remove the biggest obstacle to redevelopment, which we are actively engaged in planning for now. We hope to be able to tell you more about those plans very soon,” Franklin said.

No details were given on the potential $140 million development project that the Reeves Building demolition will make way for.

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