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Published: Saturday, December 16, 2006

Council will consider YSU-downtown link

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The university also supports the proposed street modification.

By DAVID SKOLNICK

CITY HALL REPORTER

YOUNGSTOWN — City officials will present a recommendation to city council members next week to extend Hazel Street and provide a link between Youngstown State University and downtown.

The city administration supports the recommendation made by MS Consultants in a $33,000 study to rebuild Hazel between Commerce and West Wood streets with an easterly curve so it can directly connect with the proposed Hazel extension on the north side of Wood to Lincoln Avenue.

The street would have space for two-way vehicular traffic and sidewalks on either side.

YSU officials had wanted Hazel between Commerce and West Wood to remain as it is and to build a Hazel extension that would require motorists to take a right and then a quick left to remain on the street heading from downtown to the university.

But YSU has no objection to the MS recommendation, said Ron Cole, a university spokesman.

Carmen S. Conglose Jr., the deputy director of the city's public works department, will discuss the Hazel Street study with members of council, Mayor Jay Williams and department heads at 5:15 p.m. Monday in council's caucus room on the sixth floor of city hall.

Conglose said he will ask council to adopt the study's recommendations at its Wednesday meeting.

Connecting YSU, downtown

YSU wants Hazel Street extended because it plans to build a $30 million College of Business Administration on West Wood, Phelps and Hazel streets.

The building and an extension of Hazel is important to connecting the downtown and YSU, Conglose said. The building would host business seminars and symposiums and the street would provide a link to develop a stronger working relationship between YSU business students and downtown businesses, he said. Also, a restaurant in the proposed building would need access for vehicular deliveries and garbage collection, he said.

John Cherol of Warren, whose family owns the property where YSU wants to build the college, said discussions about construction are premature.

"The university doesn't own the land and has never made my family an offer," he said. "I find it extraordinarily unbelievable that decisions have been made about my land" without consent.

Cherol said that he's held talks with YSU and the city in the past two years but that a price was never discussed. The former vehicle dealership property, about 2.65 acres, is for sale, but only at a fair price, he said.

Cole said the city and YSU have made offers and counteroffers to Cherol.

Not interested in selling

To build the Hazel Street extension, the city would have to acquire Grenga Machine & Welding Co. on West Rayen Avenue. Joseph Grenga, its owner, has no interest in selling his property.

"I would resist, and I mean resist strenuously, to any attempt by the city or YSU to take my property," he said.

Grenga wants to expand his business, but said he can't because of this issue. Also, Grenga said he is ready to fight the city and YSU for as long as it takes in the court system to keep his property.

The curve of Hazel proposed in the MS study would go through vacant land owned by the YWCA, off West Wood Street. The part of Hazel that is currently a street — but wouldn't be one if the change is made — would be paved and could be sold to adjoining property owners, Conglose said.

The study also considered making changes to Phelps Street, but MS recommended nothing be done with that street, which runs parallel to Hazel.

Conglose said that any allegations that this study was "just a rubber stamp" for YSU are false and that the Hazel recommendation, which differs from the university's, is evidence of that.

Once the study is approved, Conglose said the next step is to look at acquiring the Cherol and Grenga properties. Also, a study is needed to determine a cost estimate for extending Hazel Street, he said.

skolnick@vindy.com

Saturday, December 16, 2006