Are there too many parking spaces in downtown Youngstown?
This question came to mind after reading a story in the newspaper about two properties being razed to create 26 parking spaces.
Cost of project: $400,000
Parking spaces created: 26
That's over $15,000 per space
Yes, there are too many parking spaces downtown.
The project cost also includes the demolition of those structures. They probably had to be tested and abated for asbestos, which isn't cheap.
No there are not too many. Would we rather see decaying buildings? There are always parking issues downtown. While that is a very expensive project it is needed, Why keep buildings that can not be rehabbed?
Many times when I watch the noon news on WFMJ-TV they show a live camera shot of the parking lots along West Front Street. There are very few cars in those lots.
FYI
The property of the former State Theater building is now a parking lot.
I think there are already enough parking spots downtown, but I certainly won't miss the Jolly Bar. I'll be a little sorry to see the other building go, however.
How many parking spaces are there currently?
How many are used on a daily basis?
How many are used during a typical Che...Covelli Center event?
i say razed the all the downtown unoccupied bldgs down to satisfied the pro parking people. frango is doing good job now, the stambaugh bldg is now in tax lien because he does not have enough money to pay his taxes. what will happen in august when his two million dollars loan is due to the city? will key bank absorb the loan or go after the city for repayment and give frango a pat on the back and say good job buddy with best wishes from the administration and council.
So what two buildings are going to be razed?
Quote from: Rick Rowlands on June 04, 2009, 08:06:00 PM
So what two buildings are going to be razed?
Here is an image highlighting what I think are the buildings in question.
This must be on old photo. The buildings to the east of the Burt Building have all been removed and the land is now one large parking lot. Once the Jolly Bar Building is removed, the Burt Building will be the only structure on the entire block.
The suburban dream comes to Youngstown.... a building completely surrounded by a parking lot.
Quote from: Mary on June 03, 2009, 09:57:58 PM
There are always parking issues downtown.
The only parking issue downtown is that people are too lazy to walk more than a block. The entire stretch of Front St. from the Marshal st. bridge to the annex building at Market is a parking lot. During business hours, these lots are NEVER even half full.
And I easily find parking within two blocks of the Covelli Centre, even during the bigger events.
Quote from: jay on June 04, 2009, 09:47:39 PM
This must be on old photo. The buildings to the east of the Burt Building have all been removed and the land is now one large parking lot. Once the Jolly Bar Building is removed, the Burt Building will be the only structure on the entire block.
The suburban dream comes to Youngstown.... a building completely surrounded by a parking lot.
LOL!
Yes, the picture is old. It's from early 2005.
THE TWO BLDGS ARE THE PARAMOUNT THEATER AND THE JOLLY BAR. WHY SHOULD THE CITY TEAR DOWN THE PARAMOUNT THEATER WHEN IT IS OWNED BY LOU FRANGO, WHO HAS AN OFFICE IN THE FIRST FEDERAL PLACE. THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONIES TO HIRE POLICE OFFICIERS BUT THEY HAVE $21,00O TO GIVE TO MS CONSULTATION FOR REMOVAL STUDY. WHY DOESN'T FRANGO PAY THAT OUT OF HIS POCKET. FRANGO IS STATED IN THE VINDY TODAY THAT HE IS AT ODDS WITH THE TAX PEOPLE WITH HIS PROPERTIES VALUE FOR TAXES. FRANGO IS A CARBETBAGGER FROM CLEVELAND, WHO IS DESTORYING YTOWN JEWELS AND THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING THE OTHER DIRECTION. WHY?
I agree. It is no great secret that the Paramount is beyond any hope for restoration, so why did he buy it in the first place?
Knowing that it would need to be demolished, he's the one that should foot the bill.
FRANGO DOWNTOWN BLDGS ARE BEHIND IN TAXES. HE SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THOSE TAXES. HOW CAN HE PAY BACK THE CITY THE $2 MILLION DOLLARS HE OWES THE CITY?
Quote from: iwasthere on June 05, 2009, 10:34:29 AM
THE TWO BLDGS ARE THE PARAMOUNT THEATER AND THE JOLLY BAR.
The Paramount will be the third building to be demolished, but by the city, it would seem.
Quote from: iwasthere on June 05, 2009, 10:34:29 AM
WHY SHOULD THE CITY TEAR DOWN THE PARAMOUNT THEATER WHEN IT IS OWNED BY LOU FRANGO, WHO HAS AN OFFICE IN THE FIRST FEDERAL PLACE.
Thats not entirely accurate. Frangos Group has a small interest in the property, along with two other entities. The official owners of the property is Liberty Paramount Theatre Youngstown, LLC, which is an investment company that was headed by Grand Venues, Inc. If you remember, Paul Warshauer of Grand Venues came to town about 3 years ago with grand plans for restoring the theatre. It was later discovered that he has been accused of swindlining several other cities and theatre groups around the country, and had never actually restored a single theatre. When he realized that the city was not going to just hand him over grants and credits, he left town, never to be heard from again...
You hit the nail right square on the head on that one Rusty. The folks at CinemaTreasures.com have been warning people about Grand Venues, Inc. for a couple of years.
I can understand the feelings of historic preservationists, but again, photos of the interior of the Paramount have been available and on line since at least 2003 that show that this building is beyond saving, and as others have pointed out, a safety hazard.
None of these preservationists have shown the ability to come up with the money it would take to restore the building. What is it $10 to $15 million?
I just hope that the city doesn't just turn the property into another parking lot.
On a related parking issue, why doesn't USA Parking put in new coin boxes for their lots? THe boxes are rusted out, and many have coins jammed into the slots so its impossible to put any money in. I think out of the last three times I've parked in one of their lots I paid only once, the other two times the slots were jammed with money.
Strange.
I'm suprised that someone hasn't busted into them.
annie gilliam is the council rep for the downtown. is gilliam meeting with frango to see if he is still on task with his business plans for the bldgs that he owners in the downtown. frango must still be reliable for the paramount even if his business partner is in jail. the general public must keep pressure on frango to see he lives up to all of his empty promises for the historical downtown bldgs.