City Again Seeks Approval to Pay for Anthony’s on the River Demolition
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — City Council will again consider legislation to pay $48,000 for the August 2020 demolition of the former Anthony’s on the River building.
Steel Valley Contractors demolished the 15 Oak Hill Ave. building just days before City Council was to take up legislation to approve the “emergency demolition” of the building “for the immediate preservation of the public peace, welfare and safety.”
Under an emergency demolition, the city’s fire department is authorized to condemn a structure so demolition can begin. City officials cited complaints they received about falling bricks at the site.
Council members, irked because the city moved forward with the demolition prior to the scheduled vote, responded by voting 4-3 to defeat the ordinance at their Aug. 26 meeting.
Council will take up the new legislation at its June 2 meeting.
The 110-year-old building, which previously was the site of the Anthony’s on the River restaurant and the St. Vincent DePaul Society before that, was purchased by Two Bridges LLC for $100,000 in February 2019.
Ideas discussed for the property included a fine-dining restaurant on the first floor and office space on the second floor.
Two Bridges and its partners, Ron Eiselstein and Chris Prater, filed suit in September to determine whether the city exceeded its authority when it razed the structure and whether it should bear the costs of the demolition.
The Mahoning County Auditor’s website shows $189,178.73 in property taxes due on the site, including $13,586.53 past due.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
