YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The city’s board of control Wednesday morning approved a contract to take down the former South High Fieldhouse and the sale of property on West Rayen Avenue for a local electrical contractor’s expansion.
During its meeting Wednesday, the board, which consists of Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, Law Director Lori Shells Simmons and Fiance Director Kyle Miasek, approved a $113,876 contract with Generation X Contractors, Youngstown. The contract calls for Generation X to provide asbestos remediation, demolition, site clearance, backfill and grading services at the 1840 Erie St. site, behind the former South High School.
The city received a $280,000 brownfield grant to cover the environmental study and demolition and cleanup at the property, and had to provide a 25% match, Miasek said. Once the site work is completed, the city plans to sell the property to Valley Christian Schools, which plans to redevelop the former high school and construct a new stadium on the field house property.
“Just like 20 Federal Place, we had to own the property to apply for the state brownfield grant,” Miasek said.
The sale of the approximately 1.2-acre property on West Rayen Avenue will support a planned expansion by Gulu Electrical Contractors, Youngstown. The company plans to construct warehouse and office space on the land it purchased from the city’s land bank, said Stephen Biroschak, city zoning analyst.
The city’s board of control approved the sale of the property for $14,950 Wednesday.
“They are maxed out in capacity where they’re located,” 1295 Crescent St., and unable to expand there, he said. A groundbreaking on the expansion is anticipated within the next year, and the company plans to add up to 10 new employees.
Gulu Electrical officials were unavailable to comment Wednesday morning.
Pictured at top: The former South High Fieldhouse.