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Youngstown amphitheater project set to begin
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 15, 2018
in the planning stages for a while, but the first phase of a multimillion-dollar project to erect The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater will soon be underway.
Youngstown Finance Director Kyle Miasek said in mid-March contractors will begin work on the relocation of an 84-inch sewer line that runs through the site where the theater will go up.
“The sewer line is over 100 years old,” said Miasek. “It connects to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and before we can break ground on the project we need to redirect the line around the outside of the amphitheater footprint so that if there are any problems with the line it can be easily accessed.
“We required bids from contractors to be submitted to us by noon on March 2,” he said. “Once the sewer line is relocated we will be able to start construction of the amphitheater.”
Eric Ryan, president and owner of JAC Management Group, which manages the day-to-day operations at the Covelli Centre, said the amphitheater would be adjacent to the arena.
The theater is part of a larger project that includes a sprawling 12-acre riverfront park.
“The theater will be located inside the park and have 4,500 seats, a covered stage, grass lawn and a VIP area,” said Ryan, whose company will also oversee operations at the amphitheater. “The arena is very popular but business is historically slower during the summer months.
“The thought process is that people prefer to be outside when it’s warmer and the amphitheater will allow them to do so,” said Ryan. “The hope is that the amphitheater will host more community-type events that offer less expensive ticket prices than the arena.”
“The project is part of the city’s vision to create a contiguous green space that connects the downtown to the Mahoning Avenue Bridge, linking it to the existing Mill Creek Park System and Youngstown State University,” said Miasek.
“We would like to see this project completed in time for the 2019 concert season if possible,” Miasek. “There is a lot of work that must happen in between, including planting the greenery for the park, so our plans will be dependent upon the weather among other things.”
While the final cost of the project remains unknown, the city did get a big boost from The Youngstown Foundation, which pledged a $3 million gift in November 2017 in exchange for a 20-year naming rights agreement for the new amphitheater.
“We are celebrating our 100th anniversary this year and thought this would be a great way to kick off our anniversary,” said Jan Strasfeld, executive director of The Youngstown Foundation. “Our organization is the largest community foundation in the Valley and the fourth oldest in the country.
“We award over $6 million in grants annually,” she said. “Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for Youngstown residents, which we feel this project will do for generations to come.
“Ours was the first and largest gift and it was the largest gift in the history of our foundation.”
In addition city officials expect to receive $4 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Community Development Block Grant program.
“We expect there will be a naming rights agreement for the park in the near future,” said Ryan.
Former Youngstown Mayor John McNally said the idea for the project began after the former Wean United building on South Phelps Street was demolished in 2014.
“The building was an eyesore in the downtown,” said McNally. “After it was taken down we realized we had 21 acres of land to develop.
“There was clearly a lack of green space for residents and workers to enjoy,” McNally said. “Over the years there had also been a discussion about building an amphitheater so we sat down with the architects and consultants and decided we wanted to build something on the west side of the city that would connect with the east side and provide much needed green space.”
Although the park will be available for public use all year, Ryan said the amphitheater will be open from May through September.
“We would like to see some free events held at the amphitheater,” said Ryan. “We see the amphitheater as a complement to the Covelli Centre, which has been hosting well known artists and events since 2005.”