YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The city’s design review committee Tuesday tentatively approved a request by Valley Foods to install a black chain-link fence around its parking lot at 461 E. Federal St., downtown, provided two conditions are met.

It will review the plan in the near future to assure that the opening is moved to a location that will allow firetruck access and planter containers are put in place around the perimeter to soften the appearance.

The committee told Linda Giambattista, COO of Valley Foods, at its previous meeting to remove a wall of concrete barriers that she had placed around her parking lot and replace it with a barrier that is compliant with city regulations. 

Giambattista put the barriers up mainly to prevent patrons at Penguin City Brewing from parking on the lot.

The vinyl-coated fence that will be erected will be 610 feet in length and 6 feet high.

Pizza Mural

The commission also approved a mural of a slice of Brier Hill pizza that will be painted on the rear wall of Avalon Pizza, 17 W. Federal St.

Local muralist Pat McGlone will create the two-story mural, which will face a parking lot at Boardman and Phelps streets. Its presence will steer guests to the restaurant’s rear entrance, in the lot, and also pay tribute to Youngstown’s reputation as a place for quality pizza, he said.

Most people do not realize that the restaurant has a separate entrance at its rear, McGlone said.

Another goal is to make the mural eligible for inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest painting of a slice of pizza.

Committee members noted that while the mural would be obtrusive if it were on the front of the restaurant, it will be a fun and appropriate addition to the more hidden rear entrance.

The committee approved three other proposals Tuesday:

  • YBI: The signage on the exterior walls of the structure at 99 Vindicator Square will be visible from Boardman Street. The signs, to be painted by McGlone, will state the name of the building: Lamoncha Center for Advanced Manufacturing. The building is the former old Vindicator building.
  • Choffin Career & Technical Center: Signs with the Choffin logo will be painted on three exterior walls of the structure at 200 E. Wood St. The signs will be painted by McGlone.
  • Coy Cornelius and Judy Rodgers Studios: A $17,653 facade grant was approved for the structure at 1931 Belmont Ave. Work will include improvements to the roof, removal of failing blocks, the rebuilding of a block wall, replacement of door frames and a window and other items.

Pictured at top: A mural of a slice of Brier Hill pizza will be painted on the rear of the Avalon Pizza restaurant, downtown.