City of Youngstown provides update on structural engineer hired to inspect exploded building

Youngstown city leaders held another press conference Thursday morning to provide the public an update on the structural engineering company hired to inspect the Realty Tower building.

During the conference, Youngstown's Deputy Director of Public Works Chuck Shasho told reporters that structural engineering company Barber & Hoffman was hired to inspect the building. The city approved a $7,500 to the company to get their operations started.

The building's structural integrity has come into question following a deadly explosion on the building's first floor, which housed a Chase Bank branch on Tuesday, May 28.

Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown says the structural engineers will take a look at the building's structural integrity and determine whether or not it is safe for crews to enter and remove the remaining debris.

Mayor Brown says he does not know how long this inspection will take, but once they deem it is safe to remove the debris, workers with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will go into the building, remove the debris and inspect it from the inside.

Once the NTSB determines it's absolutely safe, that's when tenants of the apartments on the building's upper floors will be allowed to come in and get their belongings.

First Ward Councilman Julius Oliver also took to the podium to provide some reassurance to tenants who have expressed concerns about still needing to pay rent if their belongings were not removed within 30 to 60 days.

Councilman Oliver says that clock hasn't even started yet because it hasn't been deemed safe for anyone including federal agencies to enter the building.

When asked if downtown Youngstown festivals such as Simply Slavic and the Greater Youngstown Italian Fest could still happen due to the explosion, Shahso responded he's confident these events can still happen in their intended locations with minor adjustments.

The company was hired at the City of Youngstown's Board of Control meeting earlier Thursday morning. 

Earlier in the week, Shasho had told reporters the structural engineer was only hired to check the structural integrity of the building and to verify that it is safe.

What the structural engineer will not do is determine if the building can be saved or what repairs need to be made. City leaders say that is the owner's responsibility.

Mayor Brown says once the investigation is completed by both the structural engineer and NTSB, the city will end its involvement with the building and turn it over to the owner.