4 things we learned about the aftermath of the explosion at Youngstown’s Realty Tower

The City of Youngstown released an update on the Realty Tower explosion and what to be cautious of over the next few days.

The city contracted Barber & Hoffman as consulting engineers to do a structural assessment of the building. Here are the major takeaways:

What is the ‘hazard zone’ near the building?

The engineer assessment found that the Realty Tower is in “imminent danger of collapse.” B&H has deemed the building as dangerous and ordered all businesses within a 70 yard radius of the damaged tower to be closed.

A collapse hazard has been marked, advising all cars and pedestrians to avoid the site until the building is either demolished or deemed safe after repairs.

What businesses were affected by the hazard zone?

The Doubletree by Hilton Youngstown Downtown has been temporarily closed to abide by the hazard zone. The International Towers Apartment building has also been closed and will evacuate all its residents.

A portion of Central Square, the Huntington Bank and the OH WOW! Children’s Museum are also closed due to being in proximity to the explosion site.

What is the current condition of the building?

The building is currently being held up by several steel beams supporting the structural columns.

Multiple portions of the building have collapsed, such as the ground floor and some sidewalk vaults. The structural integrity of the building was deemed very weak with several components detaching, which will eventually lead to a collapse, according to the report.

What are the future plans for the building?

The City of Youngstown stated in a press conference on Tuesday that they are expecting to hear back soon from the Realty Tower building owners, Y.O. Properties, about the next steps to take with the building.

Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown spoke up about ensuring the neighboring roads and buildings are safe in case of a collapse in the meantime. He stated that the city is also in conversation with the state government on safety measures moving forward.

“There are some difficult times that we face, but I’m sure it gets easier if the community comes together,” Brown said at the press conference. “This right here is a community issue.”

Sign up for our Mahoning Matters newsletter

Support our journalists with a tax-deductible donation