Development

[Towntalk]

I would like you to see the entire building saved, and it's too bad no one has stepped forward to do the job that had the money to do it. The fact of the matter is that no one has come forward.

As you know, a number of groups have expressed interest in the State over the years, but none was able to produce the cash to buy the building, much less come up with the millions of dollars it would take to make all the repairs that would be needed.

Should we just stabilize the building and let it stand in the hope that someone in the next ten years might come up with the money?

Aside from being able to sit back and say "We saved it from the Wrecking Ball", what would that accomplish?

I'm all in favor of restoration if and when someone in the private sector who has experience in restoration of theaters comes forward with his own money, but it's truly unfair to expect the tax payers to come up with the bulk of the money on a project that may never be compleated when there are so many other things that this city needs.

It's easy to sit here and talk when it's not our money that is involved, but stop a moment and think about all the projects that need the city's attention ... road repair... demolition of buildings and houses that are beyond repair ... a new home for the Police Department and Municipal Court ... the list is endless. Which is more important, saving the State Theater or road and bridge repair, or more policemen on the beat?

[northside lurker]

Actually when you get right down to it, wouldn't it be more economical to remove those features that some seem to think are so valuable prior to demolition, then demolish the rest of the building.

That's just it, the entire front of the building is worth saving.  The whole is greater than it's parts.  Go and look at old pictures of Youngstown. (or any old town, for that matter) and see all of the extremely ornate buildings that used to be there, that are now either gone, or stripped of their character.  In the old days--up through the 1970's, "out with the old, in with the new" was what everyone thought was the right answer.  We should know better now; we're running out of "old" and the "new" is far from better.

[Towntalk]

Aside from "saving" the front wall of the State, what other purpose would be gained? According to the City, the land would be a parking lot. The costs of reinforcing the front wall would be high,  and you would also have to consider the costs of trying to protect it while the rest of the building is being torn down.

Actually when you get right down to it, wouldn't it be more economical to remove those features that some seem to think are so valuable prior to demolition, then demolish the rest of the building. This was done prior to the Higby Building being demolished.

[northside lurker]

The city is also looking to demolish the front end of the old State Theater and the old Armed Services building to turn into a city parking lot.

I think the addition to the Incubator is great.  Most of the buildings really are eyesores.

But, I'm worried about the facade of the State Theatre.  At the downtown Youngstown site, they posted the articles from the Business Journal and the Vindicator.  The Vindy article left some doubt as to whether the facade would, in fact, be saved.  As I said on that site: great, old architecture like that is a "non-renewable resource."  It should be saved, even if the rest of the building is raised.  Even if just the auditorium part of the theater was taken down, the city would gain a huge amount of space.

[Towntalk]

According to The Vindicator, some more West Federal Street eye sores will be coming down.

Five buildings between the Youngstown Incubator west to the Simple Building will be torn down to make room for a 25,000 square foot building for The Youngstown Technology Center which will house Softek Software and Turning Technologies.

The project is expected to start late this year.

The city is also looking to demolish the front end of the old State Theater and the old Armed Services building to turn into a city parking lot.