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Youngstown says owners of Realty Tower have Monday deadline to offer structural plan

By Chris Pugh
Police officials are urging people to avoid downtown Youngstown after a reported gas explosion at the former Chase building downtown at Market Street and East Federal Avenue.
Police officials are urging people to avoid downtown Youngstown after a reported gas explosion at the former Chase building downtown at Market Street and East Federal Avenue. Photo courtesy of John White

Youngstown officials are giving Realty Tower owners a Monday deadline for a plan to stabilize the building after a deadly explosion there last month.

If they don’t hear back, they said they will hire their own engineer to handle the process.

“After several in-depth meetings with the owners regarding the status of their building we have not received a plan to safely stabilize it as requested,” Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said.

The city released a report earlier in the week from Cleveland-based Barber & Hoffman which 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.

“Youngstown residents are out of their homes and our businesses are losing money,” Brown said. “We simply cannot wait any longer while they seem to be more focused on their bottom line instead of the well-being of our city.”

Brown also said the relocation process is well underway at International Towers, with all residents having a plan and on schedule to be placed.

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