20 Federal Place businesses evicted for building redevelopment project
Many people in the Valley go to 20 Federal Place to shop and eat. It's a place where some businesses have been thriving for more than 20 years.
Recently, 21 news reported the businesses were getting an eviction notice, with 30 to 60 days to close up shop.
"My heart dropped, it's quite scary," said Christine Mechling, manager at Capitol Grill in 20 Federal Place.
"It's an unfortuante situation," said Stan Simon, owner of The Shop Downtown in 20 Federal Place.
The notification and time frame was a shocking surprise for business owners, but the building is being redeveloped under time constraints of it's own. Some of the money that's attached to the $74 Million dollar project, comes with the stipulation that the job is finished by June 20-23.
Construction won't begin though until after the city applies for a historic tax credit of $23 million dollars, a credit they say is already guranteed.
New developments for the building include a restaurant on the rooftop, apartments on several of the top floors, office space, innovation and events space as well as food halls and parking on the bottom floors.
The 20 Federal Place building is a historic Staple in Youngstown, it was the Strauss Department Store back in 1926, then May Co. bought the building in 1948.
It was later combined with Kaufmann's brand in 1986 and then taken over by PharMor drug store in 1988.
About thirteen years later, the city acquired the building in 2001.
The city of Youngstown is working with a consulting firm to relocate the displaced businesses. The city plans to connect business owners with real estate brokers and building owners to get them into a space, somewhere in Youngstown.