Renovations to 20 Federal Place could be up and running as early as the start of the new year, as the project's consulting firm met with city leaders to review the plan. The structure has been closed since the fall of 2022.

The former Strouss building plans to hold housing units, along with some commercial space.

With much potential based on the building's size and location, the plan is to redevelop the property into a residential and commercial space.

"About $18 million of that would be financed through the sale of the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program," explained Doug Rasmussen, CEO & Managing Principal of Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners. "Those dollars have been allocated to the building and then the balance of it would be from bond financing and private equity."

The $57 million project is being taken on by Dallas-based developer, Bluelofts. Renovations involve constructing 100 apartment units, medical suites, a wellness hub, retail space, and e-commerce mini-warehouse space, and a parking lot.

"This is comparable to the Gallery in Cleveland or Tower City. You can shop, work, play, and live. To be able to have that type of facility in Youngstown, it would be a game changer," said Councilman Julius Oliver. "You wouldn't need to go anywhere else. You could stick within your neighborhood and business district at the same time."

The project's consulting firm is waiting on Youngstown's Board of Control to authorize the team, then the pre-development process could start as early as January.

"With that additional $18 million already being in the pot for the $57 million, it looks great for the developer," Oliver added. "I think having that in play puts us in a better position. We won't have that moving forward. With everything being time-sensitive right now, to have a good company that has a good proposal in place and also a financial process that's been proven to work, it's a good deal to move forward on."

"The next step would be about a 10-month additional due diligence process," Rasmussen explained. "Which would culminate ultimately in a bond financing that would finance the project."

If all goes as planned, the construction will begin next fall and be completed in the summer of 2027.