Sid-Mar Foods Plans Renovations Inside Out

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A South Side poultry distributor plans extensive interior renovations once to accompany outside work on his building.

Sid-Mar Foods Inc., 1481 South Ave., has not applied to the façade improvement program but Tom DeAngelo, city economic development coordinator, told members of the city’s Design Review Committee he expects an application within the next two weeks.

The city is placing emphasis on the South Avenue corridor this year and trying to encourage businesses to get involved in the façade program, DeAngelo said.

“We’re looking at renovation inside and out,” said Richard “Sid” Seidler, owner of Sid-Mar Foods. “This is going to be our first project that is going to lead into the inside.”

The interior work, which will involve new equipment as well as renovations to the building, “could be a $500,000 project,” he estimated.

The company distributes poultry products to grocery stores, restaurants, bars and other outlets in the tri-county area and business is growing, requiring the expansion, he said

Sid-Mar received approval for the proposed exterior improvements from the committee, which reviews proposed designs for facade program applicants in addition to exterior improvements and signs in the downtown area. Sid-Mar’s request was one of three the committee took up at its meeting Tuesday morning.

Sid-Mar’s plans call for removing flaking paint from the building, and trees and weeds from the property; power washing the building and dock area; point blocking as needed; applying primer and paint to the building; applying trim and roof vents; installing mulch and shrubs; installing or replacing five signs; and replacing one glass-block window.

Under the façade program, business owners can be reimbursed 40%, or up to $20,000, of what they spend on exterior improvements that meet the city’s requirements.

Seidler also plans to seek funds for the interior improvements from the city’s Youngstown Initiative program, he said. He estimated hiring an additional three to five people as a result of the project.

Members of the committee also requested that Seidler add some greenspace as part of the exterior work. South Avenue is receiving renewed focus this year with the creation of business and neighborhood groups along the corridor, The city is replacing traffic signals along South Avenue this year and plans to repave the corridor next year, said Chuck Shasho, deputy director of public works.

“We’re putting a lot of resources in,” Shasho said. “I would just like to see as much done as possible, especially if the city is paying 40%.”

The committee members approved two additional requests during the meeting, for the YWCA of Youngstown and for Holy Trinity Roman Orthodox Church.

The YWCA branch, 25 W. Rayen Ave., received approval to hang three temporary vinyl banners on the East Side of the Building, facing Wick Avenue. The banners, which will measure 8 feet tall by 5 feet wide, will promote the organization’s youth, empowerment and housing with supportive services initiatives.

The committee approved permitting the signs to hang for one year. Normally temporary signs are permitted to hang for up to six months, said Bill D’Avignon, Community Development Agency Director and chairman of the committee.

“This is a little bit of an investment in the visibility of our agency,” said Leah Brooks, YWCA executive director. She said the signs hopefully would be installed within a month.

Approval of the new sign in front of Holy Trinity, located at 626 Wick Ave., was contingent upon the church’s submission of a design. Church representatives had presented the committee with a representation of a sign similar to one they were proposing.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.