For the first time in decades, Warren is able to use federal funding to tear down commercial blight in the city.

They started with one property on Youngstown Road, the old Charlie's Beer and Wine.

"It's about a revitalization of an area that's in desperate need of it, but has tremendous investment and economic potential," said Warren Mayor Doug Franklin.

In the end, 11 buildings will be coming down.   

Most are vacant buildings that line the entrance ways into downtown. 

Tuesday's demolition is just the beginning of a project that will include a $4 million reconstruction project of Youngstown Road.  

That means new curbing, a new road, and sidewalks on the heavily traveled road.   

Once all that is complete, Mayor Franklin says they'll talk strategy.

"We are going to follow that up with a marketing strategy, obviously to just talk about the corridor and a lot of the potential investment opportunities along this corridor," said Franklin

"I lived in these parts for many years, you know, and to see the plans that they have for this area really makes me very happy," said one Warren resident.

Mayor Franklin says there are currently about 100 businesses along the corridor that will be impacted by this project.