Chill-Can Plant Takes Shape; City Buys More Land

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The first building in Joseph Co. International’s proposed $20 million “chill can” beverage and technology center on the East Side is complete, and the director of the city’s economic efforts reported a total of three buildings should be done this fall.

The Irvine, Calif.-based company broke ground last November on the complex, which it is being built on the site of the former Star Bottling Co., founded by the great-grandfather of Joseph Co. CEO Mitchell Joseph. The company will refine its self-chilling can technology and manufacture products at the complex.

The first building is completed and construction should be starting soon on the second, T. Sharon Woodberry, director of community planning and economic development, said.

“We expect to see all three buildings completed by September of this year. That’s the time frame that the developer is giving us,” Woodberry said. She expects the company will ramp up operations “very soon after that,” but that will depend on how soon it can hire the personnel it needs, she said.

The city, which has been working with Joseph Co. to acquire property for the project, today purchased two more parcels in the project area. The Board of Control this morning approved a residential purchase agreement with David Richard and a separate one with Richards and Richard D. Parker. The city paid $200 for each of the two parcels.

The properties were among some vacant parcels that were taking more time to acquire because of the time needed to track down owners, she said. “There’s still a couple that need to be finalized,” Woodberry said.

The board – which consists of Mayor John McNally, Law director Martin Hume and Finance Director David Bozanich – also approved paying $8,000 for 24 concrete flower pots and $3,954 for a sign for the South Avenue corridor.

The sign, which will be placed on a lot just south of the Himrod Avenue Expressway on ramp, will read, “Welcome to the South Ave. Corridor.” The purchases are part of an effort to make improvements along the corridor, one of the major arteries into the downtown. She expects the sign to be installed in August or September.

“We’ll see this work being done within the next month or so,” Woodberry said. “By the end of summer, beginning of fall, there should be a visible difference and improvements in some of the properties.”

In addition, the city will enter into agreements to install rain gardens on lots along the corridor. The South Avenue Area Neighborhood Development Initiative also plans to do work on some lots, she said.

Pictured: The first building of Joseph Co. International’s “chill can” beverage and technology center.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.