Hi everyone, this is my first new post here.

 

This is the Stambaugh building on the NE corner of central square, as many of you may already know.

With the exception of Buffalo Wild Wings on the first floor, the building is completely empty.

 

There was an article in the local paper about Lou Frangos, and his plans for the buildings he owns downtown.

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/289677370623685.php

There is a comment in the story that he feels the Stambaugh building is a lost cause. 

"It would make a great hotel site, but we've been told it would cost $15 million" for that project, Frangos said. "It's cost-prohibitive."

  He's creating up-scale apartments/condos in 2 other buildings, and student housing in a third.

 

My question for the readers of this site is: do you have any good ideas about how the Stambaugh building could be re-used.  Unfortunately, I believe there is only one stair tower, no sprinkler system, and lots of asbestos.

 

There probably isn't a large office market--the office buildings currently downtown are about 80% full.  However, I think it could be feasible to remove the asbestos, and create many smaller, inexpensive, loft-style apartments.  But, of course, a second stair and sprinkler system would need to be added.(?)  I could be wrong, but it seems as though Mr. Frangos is targeting students and "rich" people, but not non-students.  People who want to live downtown, but don't have lots of money to pay $900-1200 per month for an apartment/condo.

 

Let me apologize in advance if my thoughts here seem fractured.  I've been thinking about this for a week, and so it's hard to communicate everything to a group who may not be at all familiar with the building, or the current events in Youngstown.

 

What are your thoughts?

I'd be curious if the building is eligible for brownfield-cleanup funds - buildings with asbestos have qualified in other areas of the state. The problem with "problem" buildings like the Stambaugh is that once your costs get to a certain point, a developer HAS to charge rents that might seem exorbitant to a good chunk of the population.

 

Being familiar with Youngstown - I think the building is a little too far from YSU proper to be used as a hotel. Hotel guests in a university setting tend to prefer on-site locations, rather than having to schlep a few blocks. I have to ask - has anything been done with the former Wick-Pollock?

I have to ask - has anything been done with the former Wick-Pollock?

 

I haven't heard any news about the Wick-Pollock Inn, but I think the garden was recently restored by YSU students.

http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/302096228996793.php

I don't know Youngstown well enough to speak of reuse, but that is a fabulous building and would be a huge loss to the square if torn down.

 

When I was in Youngstown last month, I wondered if the top four floors had been added at a later date. There were indications of this on all sides of the building. Can anyone verify that?

From where else? clevelandskyscrapers.com! :-)

 

This info was provided by Donna DeBlasio at YSU:

 

Stambaugh Building - 1906

44 Federal Plaza West

12 Floors

Albert Kahn, one of Detroit’s most important architects, designed the Neo-Classical Revival Stambaugh Building in 1906. Seven years later, Kahn added four more stories to the existing eight. The white terra cotta clad building housed the offices of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company and the Brier Hill Iron and Coal Company. Although there have been alterations to the exterior, the building still retains much of its integrity.

Who would have thought to look there? :lol:

 

Thanks for the info!!!

The Stambaugh Building is in the process of becoming a hotel and should be opened some time next year.

The Stambaugh Building is in the process of becoming a hotel and should be opened some time next year.

 

Also see:

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,7392.msg818598.html#msg818598