YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – From the outside, the three-story building at 217 Federal Plaza East doesn’t give much away. It’s tucked along a block many residents pass without notice. But walk up the back stairs, and the space reveals itself – one visitor at a time – with the same reaction: “Wow!”
That’s exactly what Travis Pownell was going for.
“I didn’t know this was here,” is a common response, Pownell said. “This is cool. This is unique.”
Pownell, the regional dance director for Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Ohio, purchased the John R. Davis Building in early 2024 under his development venture, DT One Enterprises.
The acquisition was completed through a land contract with Paul Hagman of Sweet Jenny Land at a price of $420,000. Since then, Pownell has invested heavily in revitalizing the structure.
“My vision for this building is more than just ownership. It’s about being part of something bigger,” he said. “Downtown Youngstown has had some black eyes. But instead of being someone who says, ‘Downtown doesn’t have anything going on,’ I wanted to be someone doing the opposite.”
The 6,000-square-foot building houses multiple uses. The first floor remains occupied by Concept Studio, an event space operated by tenant MaryAnn Meyer. Pownell has developed the second floor into a flexible-use “creative space.” Pownell lives on the third floor.
A longtime regional dance director with Fred Astaire Dance Studios, Pownell brings a background in the performing arts and small business training to the project. He sees the second-floor space as more than an event venue – envisioning it as a “flex space” for pop-up shops, creative rehearsals, meetings and rotating uses that encourage grassroots entrepreneurship.
“You could rent it by the hour, day or weekend. It’s designed for people who want to try something without committing to long-term rent,” he said.
Unlike traditional event venues, the flex space is designed for affordability and accessibility. Pownell said larger cities have embraced similar models, and he believes Youngstown can do the same – with the right investment and creativity.
“This has a little bit of the art vibe, so it could really foster a creative community,” he said. “I think that’s needed downtown.”
The aesthetic is a blend of industrial and modern, with curated lighting, exposed ceilings and minimalist decor designed to accommodate photography backdrops, trunk shows or community events. One recent visitor likened entering the space to an unexpected reveal.
“When people come in, they’re like, ‘Wow! I didn’t know anything like this was downtown,’” Pownell said. “That element of surprise is something special.”
That sentiment is echoed by Meyer, whose event space on the first floor has hosted weddings, showers and panel discussions since 2019. With a prep kitchen, flexible layout and capacity of about 70 people, she said the appeal lies in the building’s downtown charm and accessibility.
“A lot of people who come in say, ‘Oh my gosh, I haven’t been downtown forever,’” Meyer said. “It’s a little different than a typical party room. People like to come in, walk down the street to a restaurant or stay at the DoubleTree – it’s all walkable.”
Pownell believes walkability and residential growth are key to a thriving downtown. As someone who previously rented in the Wick Tower but chose to buy, he’s now one of only a handful of owner-occupants downtown. He says that investment creates a natural sense of stewardship.
“If I live downtown and see a can or a wrapper on the sidewalk, I pick it up,” he said. “You treat the space differently when you own it.”
The building itself was in functional condition when he bought it, but he has invested heavily in aesthetic upgrades – including ceiling work, lighting and roof repairs. He’s also added touches that reinforce a polished yet creative energy: sleek chandeliers, functional studio lighting and open layout designs that can easily transform for various uses.
Pownell said his approach is less about large-scale development and more about replicable, grassroots revitalization.
“I’m small beans – there’s no big investors behind me,” he said. “But if this is successful, I could see myself doing this with another building.”
He believes more buildings downtown could be developed in a similar way – even subdividing larger spaces into condo-style floors to make ownership more accessible for other entrepreneurs.
“Some of the buildings would require multimillion-dollar investment, but these smaller ones – it’s doable,” he said. “And Youngstown is one of the easiest places to do it compared to big cities.”
Beyond infrastructure, Pownell points to the energy of the neighborhood as a critical factor. He cites neighbors like the Draught House, Strollo Architects and the DoubleTree hotel as key allies in building a sense of community and opportunity.
“Downtown should be the heart of any city,” he said. “If the heart’s not healthy, the rest of the body can’t be either.”
Despite downtown’s challenges – including pandemic setbacks, stalled infrastructure projects and shuttered venues – Pownell remains optimistic. He believes investment, creativity and residency can reignite the downtown’s momentum.
“It’s not going to happen overnight, but we can build something here again,” he said. “Encourage people to come down. Make it walkable. Make it vibrant.”
In the end, Pownell believes transformation starts with personal responsibility – and action.
“People always say, ‘They should do something,’” he said. “Well, who is they? They is us – people like me and you.”
Pictured at top: Travis Pownell, owner of DT1 Enterprises, stands in the second-floor flex space of his downtown Youngstown building.