NILES, Ohio - Work is currently underway for a demolition project in Downtown Niles.

According to Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz, this work is part of a project involving the demolition of the former Robins Theater location near the intersection of State Street and South Main Street.

Mayor Mientkiewicz tells 21 News crews demolition has begun for an adjacent property to the theater, but demolition on the theater itself will begin later this week. Mientkiewicz did not have a specific date for demolition beginning on the theater.

"The downtown blighted buildings have been an eyesore for years," Mientkiewicz said. "That was one of the biggest concerns that I heard from residents, is how can you clean up this block of the downtown area."

Mientkiewicz tells us this is an approximately $350,000 project funded primarily through a demolition grant from the Ohio Department of Development. 

"When you come over the viaduct into Downtown Niles, we want it to make a statement and an impact. We think within the proposed plan, we are going to be able to offer that to our community," Mientkiewicz added.

Once demolition is completed, Mientkiewicz says his vision for the property is an "urban entertainment area" for Downtown Niles for small community events, food trucks, musical acts and more. The center would have seating, LED lighting and fencing. 

The city's latest Comprehensive Plan, the proposed area is described as "a plaza which will include generous flexible hardscape and lawn space to support passive uses such as lunch or coffee, play, a stroll, or small gatherings, as well as set the stage and provide infrastructure for organized event use such as concerts, markets, art walks, wellness programming, and group meetups."

"It's a good location to host these types of events, whether it be the city, whether it be the city partnering with a promotional company or whether that be local citizen groups," Mientkiewicz explained. 

The Comprehensive Plan also includes a map of what the proposed finished product would look like. That map is pictured below.

Mientkiewicz tells 21 News the city has applied for funding from Governor DeWine's Appalachian Community Grant Program and he should know whether or not the city will receive that funding in the coming months.

The funding would not only go to the downtown development but also the canoeing and kayaking site near the Mahoning River.