Latest news with #RealtyTower
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Tito Brown weighs in on future of Realty Building lot
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Someone unfamiliar with downtown Youngstown may not even realize the Realty Tower Building once stood at the corner of Market and East Federal Streets, because it's now just another gravel space on Central Square — but Mayor Tito Brown hopes it doesn't remain that way. 'My focus is to have residential and retail that will complement what's going to happen long-term downtown, and I think if we stick to that plan, it's a win for us,' Brown said. Mayor Brown said his economic development team has talked with Brian Angelilli, whose company, YO 47 Properties, owns the land where the Realty Tower once sat. 'I think Brian's kind of just waiting for kind of the dust to settle and just get through this first year. When you talk with Brian, he does have great ideas,' Brown said. For as big as the Realty Building was, for as tall as it was, 13 stories, the property that it sat on really isn't all that big. According to the Mahoning County Auditor, it's just a little less than 2/10 of an acre. Despite its small size, Bill Lawson of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society says the Realty Tower plot is significant because it occupies a corner of Central Square — first laid out in 1798. This is one of the oldest pictures, around 1870, shortly after the Civil War monument was erected. By the 1930s, Central Square was taken over by trolleys, cars and people. It's a historic place. 'The way the city developed around the square, the events that occurred in the square for generations, going back almost to the beginning,' Lawson said. 'You know, the one thing I can confidently say is I don't want a parking lot,' Mayor Brown said. Both Mayor Brown and Bill Lawson agree that something needs to go where the Realty Tower once stood. 'It's going to be hard to really duplicate it but we want to get as close as we can and so you can look when you go downtown, it's like, that's a nice building, and you wouldn't be able to tell it was just built recently,' said Brown. 'I think the key thing is going to be quality of materials and the aesthetics of a popular design now that it reflects that and so that's how you create a substantial building that's going to last for generations,' said Lawson. One other thing Mayor Brown would like to see on this spot is a plaque to commemorate the death of Akil Drake and what happened there one year ago. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Firefighters reflect on Realty Tower Explosion one year later
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- A lot has happened over the past year since that deadly Realty Tower gas explosion. The blast claimed the life of Akil Drake and injured nine others. It happened one year ago, around 2:45 p.m. Crews worked for weeks, trying to clear some of the debris and piece together what happened. But there were questions over the building's stability. That's why city officials made the call to evacuate International Towers starting June 20. That building sits right next to where the explosion happened. After a lot of debate on whether the Realty Building could be saved or needed to be torn down, the decision was made to demolish it. Demo began July 12 and officially finished September 25. Many businesses near the blast site had to be closed while all of this was happening. A phased reopening of that area started August 19. One week ago, the NTSB released the explosion investigation docket to the public. It includes preliminary reports, accident summaries, field notes, maps, interviews, images of the damage, and much more. Several area departments stepped up around the Valley one year ago today when the Realty Building exploded. But three men were given higher honors at the statehouse. Youngstown firefighters Scott Thomas, Tommy Gibbs, and Joseph Koziel received the Fire Service Valor Award for their heroic actions following the explosion. According to the State Fire Service Hall of Fame, they were inducted based on their efforts that reflect the core values of the fire service: courage, teamwork, and an unwavering commitment to protect and serve. Captain Gibbs explained that he thought at first this was just a nuisance call. Something that was going to just turn into nothing. Then they heard the explosion, seeing the smoke. 'It's changed the way I look at the training and how you go about things. If I'm always, you can't train for every call, but we can train for how we're going to act on these calls,' said Captain Tommy Gibbs 'Everybody now realizes that, you know, any time that tone hits, it can be anything,' said Batt. Chief Timothy Frease. One of the injured was a woman whom Captain Gibbs and Battalion Chief Frease pulled from the rubble in the basement. One thing each man shared about that day was how much worse it could have been. 'Some divine intervention definitely played a key role in that,' said firefighter Scott Thomas. 'Especially with the time of the day and the occupancy of the building. We figured there was going to be a lot more people in there. Thankfully, a fire alarm got pulled and people got out,' said firefighter Joseph Koziel. Meanwhile, a settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Akil Drake. Drake's estate will receive $6.1 million. After attorney fees, the family will receive just over $3.6 million. Y-O Properties 47 LLC paid $3 million in the settlement. Enbridge/Dominion paid $2.9 million, while Niedler Architecture and MS Consultants paid $100,000 each. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nominations sought for Italian Fest 2025 Man and Woman of the Year
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The 2025 Greater Youngstown Italian Fest will be back this summer after a hiatus last year, and your help is needed in finding the '2025 Man and Woman of the Year.' Nominations are now being accepted for anyone you feel deserves the honor. You just need to submit their name and a few paragraphs about them and their heritage. Entires should include a name, birth date and birth location. You could also include a spouse's name, grandparents, sisters, brothers and things like a favorite pastime, hobbies and accomplishments. The festival runs August 1-3 in downtown Youngstown. The winners will be introduced on opening day on the main stage, Friday, August 1 at 6 p.m. Please submit your application or personal essay with photos to: John R. Rossetti, 3438 Meanderwood Dr., Canfield, Ohio 44406 or Email: italianfest1@ The festival was canceled in 2024 out of an abundance of caution due to ongoing safety concerns in downtown Youngstown, following the explosion at Realty Tower May 28. Kristen Hephner and Patty Coller contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Judge set to release settlement records in wrongful death case
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — The family of the man who died in the Realty Tower explosion last year has been denied their request asking that documents pertaining to their wrongful death lawsuit be sealed. In March, attorney Patrick McFarland, who represents the estate of Akil Drake, confirmed the family reached a settlement in the lawsuit that involved the owner of the building, the property management company, and the gas company. Drake died while working at the Chase Bank last May. The original lawsuit alleged negligence by those involved in construction work on the building that led to the explosion, alleging that the property owner and management company knew the work could be dangerous and failed to maintain the safety of those inside. A motion filed by the estate on April 11 in Mahoning County Probate Court Judge Robert Rusu Jr.'s court asks for the details of the settlement to be sealed, as well as 'each of the four proposed release of claims.' In the filing, the estate says that the incident 'which gives rise to the death of (Drake's) decedent involves continued litigation involving multiple lawsuits and hundreds of claimants' and that the motion was made to comply with agreed settlement terms. A hearing held last week dismissed the motion. Rusu cited the Public Records Act, which allows the disclosure of probate settlement records, and said they did not find that the parties 'met their burden of proof and did not exhibit by clear and convincing evidence.' Akil Drake's family has until Monday to appeal before making the settlement details available to the public. As of Sunday, they have not filed one. Several other plaintiffs are suing in relation to the explosion. Ohio Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy assigned retired Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay to the case. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 8. Kristy Regula contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
