Another Empty Building?

[Towntalk]

If Tony Cafaro is interested in the building, it's most likely that he would turn it into an office building and rent it out. Remember, he also sought the Phar-Mor building. I hardly think that he would make a medical center out of it. If he had that idea in mind, he could have bought back the hospital his dad built.

Do you think that he just might be thinking of leasing space to both the city and county after buying the building?

[AllanY2525]

That's kind of ironic that they would be interested in the old South Side
Hospital building, considering what happened to Cafaro Hospital on
Broadway.

[jay]

One of the Cafaro brothers toured Oakhill Renaissance Place on Friday, June 9.   The family is interested in the building.

[AllanY2525]

I think that both county use and use by YSU for their nursing program would be
excellent uses for the former South Side Hospital building.

It would be nice to see YSU spread out a little bit and use some land/buildings
in areas of the city besides the downtown and near North Side areas.

[Towntalk]

Likewise what about the Osteopathic Hospital? It's close to YSU? As for the South Side Hospital, if the County does get it, and consolidates it's outside offices there, Human Services, The City Health Department, and the like, would there be room enough? On the other hand, if YSU does get the buildings, it would be as you said, ideal, but the question is, are they seriously looking at it?

[jay]

A YSU Nursing School graduate recently complained that the nursing facilities at YSU were not adequate.  Some of the floors of the old South Side Hospital could be used as an actual hospital setting for nursing classes.

[fgm]

If YSU is indeed interested in buying the property, would this possibly be a good location for their proposed community college?  I think this would be ideal and would really be an asset in revitalizing the upper south side.

[jay]

Another rumor indicates that YSU is interested in the building.

[Micky]

WFMJ-TV reported on the 11 pm newscast that Mahoning County Commissioner Traficanti sent a letter to the bankruptcy judge about their intentions to buy the Oakhill facility.

This is good news for a change, we hope.

It would be beneficial for the community to be able to access so many agencies in a central location.

Kudos to Mahoning County! 

[jay]

Mahoning Valley Hospital, a major tenant at the Oakhill Renaissance Place, announced today that it is moving its hospital to Boardman as of May 24.

[Rick Rowlands]

Not a conflict but a strength in that he has a bit more knowlege of hospital issues than someone one the outside.

So after the tenants move out and the hospital building is closed up how long before the gangs and homeless move in?

What does Forum plan to do with the place? Let it rot?

[jay]

A question came up at the meeting last night.  When SCDC purchased the former South Side Hospital Building, was there a reversion clause in the purchase agreement?

Also, a concerned citizen ask Mayor Williams directly if he served on the board of any of the area's hospitals.   The Mayor confirmed that he was a member of the Humility of Mary board.  Some feel that the mayor now has a conflict of interest when dealing with local hospital issues.

[Micky]

The point is to get other tenants into the place before they shut it down. That's what will keep the utilities on.  And where exactly did the money from the present tenants go?  The public should be given financial reports.

If the SCDC didn't pay their taxes for at least 2 years, why didn't anyone know about it, and if they did, why wasn't something done about it.  The building could have been saved by axing the SCDC and having someone else purchase the place. 

That seems to be the norm for Youngstown - instead of trying to save something, we LET those responsible for disaster disappear without any consequences to them while displacing or eliminating beneficial agencies and letting buildings get destroyed by thieves in order to demolish the buildings later.  I can't believe that this could be any part of the 2010 plan!  If we keep demolishing buildings and houses to put in bike paths and parks, what is left in this city for people to earn a decent living?

When are more people going to say enough is enough!  Hold people accountable including politicians. 

[Concerned]

They have been unable to pay their bills.  They are behind with utilities etc.  You can't keep a building open without lights and heat.

[jay]

A report states that the Oakhill Renaissance Building is 45% occupied.  Why not make a concerted effort to bring more tenants to the building?  The facility could even be used as a business incubator.  Someone speculated that the rooms facing the downtown could make excellent apartments.