Metro Monthly

by John Patrick Gatta
Metro Monthly Staff Writer

The revitalization of downtown Youngstown has been met with numerous obstacles, false hope, and several rounds of starts and stops. But beyond the years of frustration are some hopeful stories of businesses choosing to locate downtown. Some are part of the 21st century economy, while others are banking that their presence will spur further activity in the central business district.

A recent upswing involves some high-profile businesses, with some making the most out of available government programs.
Ron Faniro of Ronald Cornell Faniro Architects combined that with his interest in historic preservation in order to renovate the John R. Davis Building, 217 West Federal St. His architectural firm works on new construction as well as the adaptive re-use of historical buildings. The desire for this project was to keep as much of the authentic, original portions of the 1899 building, while modernizing it for use by a 21st century company.

Along with the other architects in his firm, Faniro created the Sweet Jenny Land Co. Its name offers a nod to the Bruce Springsteen song, “Youngstown,” which referred to the Jeanette Blast Furnace.
Faniro admitted he wanted to acquire the building 15 years ago, but said “frankly my business wasn’t of age yet to do that.”
“Recently, I revisited that with Paul Hagman and Frank Rulli, who are our associates, and we decided that it was time save this building and move our offices to it.”

Faniro credited Youngstown’s downtown development incentive programs for aiding the endeavor. “Frankly, we couldn’t have done this without those incentive programs,” he said.

The process to buy the building started in November 2006 and construction began last September. “This building has been abandoned for approximately 27 years. There had been attempts by two other development groups to improve and occupy the building. For whatever reason, those fell short,” Faniro said.

Because of that, portions of the original structure were removed, including a tin ceiling, woodwork and the plumbing and electrical systems. Although the tin ceiling will not be replaced, Faniro and company are planning on restoring the woodwork and the building’s original 108-year-old windows. “We tried to be as true as we could,” he said.

Faniro utilized a preservation-friendly detergent to clean the facade’s brick and architectural terra cotta. And although much of the interior was gone, the building’s maple floors have remained and are being refurbished.

“We’re going to have brand new mechanical, brand new plumbing, brand new electrical systems that are all code compliant, and a brand new roof that is an energy-efficient roof. And it’s all wrapped in a 108-year-old skin, which is just absolutely delightful,” Faniro said.

“Leading by example is what we’re trying to do here. Show people this can be done economically and it can be done by small business . . . and the city’s played a big part in this. It’s been really supportive.”
With the renovation nearing completion, Faniro’s architectural firm will move from its current location in the Ohio One Building. It will take up the second floor, while Hagman, who is president of Sweet Jenny Land Co., will reside on the third floor as well as use its space for Fly Ash Studio. The 2,200-square-foot-first floor was purposely left vacant in order to attract a shop, bar or restaurant to occupy its space.

“We’re doing this to save this building and to energize the downtown,” Faniro said. “It would have been very easy for me to put my offices on the first floor and take the prime real estate there. We went up on the second floor because we don’t generate a lot of street traffic, but something like a restaurant or a café or a nightclub certainly would. So, we’re reserving that space for use that would bring some life to Federal Street.”

While Faniro is enthusiastic about his new downtown venture, the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) has been working toward attracting companies to the central business district since 1995. Since its inception, the organization has acted as an economic-development engine and, in the process, has revitalized a one-time vacant downtown building for its headquarters.

According to Chief Development Officer Julie Michael Smith, the average employee salaries in companies that work with YBI are $57,000. “The jobs are high-skilled, technology-based positions which are congruent with the industry focus of YBI – information technology, specifically, business to business (B2B) software development and integration of same in various industries and applications.”

Nearly a decade ago, a plan was developed to build another structure solely for companies focused on technology. The companies also would have access to YBI’s knowledge and resources.

The Taft Technology Center, now under construction west YBI’s headquarters, is set to open this spring. One of YBI’s recent success stories, Turning Technologies, will occupy 14,000 square feet, or nearly half of the space in the building. According to an online article in Inc. magazine, the Youngstown-based company earned over $21 million in 2006 from its software that transforms PowerPoint presentations into an interactive audience experience.

YBI and the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. (YCACIC) are also collaborating on redeveloping an area of West Federal Street named Tech Block 3. The project, spanning the south side of West Federal from South Hazel to the Home Savings and Loan tower, includes the new Taft Technology Center, renovation of the Semple and Wells buildings and demolition of the former Armed Forces building and State Theater. The project aims to save the theater’s façade and create parking and greenspace nearby.

The proposed influx of workers to the central business district has encouraged others to invest in the downtown as well.
The Rosetta Stone Café, 110 W. Federal Plaza St., opened last month. The restaurant offers a full-service menu throughout the day and late into the night. Originally planned as an Internet café, Greg Sop joined forces with co-owner George Lenahan to create an upscale dining experience with a multitude of menu options.

“I thought that if we were going to do something in Youngstown, why create something that there are already are a lot of,” explained Sop. “Why not go a step forward and bring something artistic and cultured and might be a catalyst, the next step, in the city? If this project does well and survives, I think that a lot of people will see that potential and that the city is at the point where it may turn around.”

Sop pointed to the Chevy Centre, Buffalo Wild Wings, Café Cimmento, Imbibe Martini and Wine Bar and the Core Nightclub as businesses that are making it in the downtown area, giving him hope for the success of the Rosetta Stone.

The café’s name refers to the black basalt slab with inscriptions in three languages that led to the translation of the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics after its discovery in 1799. Sop sees the multiple languages echoing the restaurant’s ability to offer a variety of experiences for its customers.

Rosetta Stone has two chefs preparing a variety of steak, poultry and fish entrees and pastries are made from scratch. Two private dining rooms can accommodate 15 people, the other 35. The restaurant also features a specialty coffee area, a full-service bar with seating and a lounge area.

Sop said he chose the beer and wine selections to complement the food. The menu can be found on the restaurant’s Web site, http://www.rosettastonecafe.com, although Sop said selections and specials can change on a daily basis. The restaurant also plans to add jazz to the menu this month. Jazz nights will feature musicians from YSU’s Dana School of Music. Plans call for a jazz trio on Wednesdays and a quartet on Thursdays.

Sarah Lown, development incentive manager for Youngstown’s Office of Economic Development, views the combination of business, art and restaurants as a positive step toward revitalization, but she said more needs to be done so that downtown Youngstown becomes a destination throughout the day. Part of her job responsibilities include encouraging more companies and entrepreneurs to take a chance with a move downtown.

“The establishment of an entertainment district spurred a lot of new development because it is easier to secure a liquor license now,” Lown said. “Other downtown activities, such as events at the Chevy Centre, the DeYor Center and the Oakland Center for the Arts help bring people to the central business district in the evenings. We need to promote more daytime activity in order for the restaurants to thrive,” she added.

In seeking to attract those who work downtown and encouraging others to visit the area, the Rosetta Stone Café offers a possible preview of a more energized central business district.
“Truthfully, we’re probably still in this project rather early, but you see the [Youngstown Business] Incubator and Turning Technologies, they’re expanding. And I think if we can turn this into more of a technology hub, the potential for growth in the city is there,” Sop said.