The idea of building an amphitheater in downtown Youngstown has been around for nearly five years, and now city leaders are one step closer to realizing that dream.

Mayor John McNally told 21 News that about 95 percent of the planning for a new amphitheater is finished. City officials will hear a presentation Thursday night at 5 p.m. from a development firm outlining details and sketches for the project.

The idea has had several homes, but right now the council is looking at a possible building spot near the former Wean Foundation building, with a green space extending from the amphitheater to the Covelli Centre.

McNally said this project will clean up both sides of the Market Street bridge, what he called the "front door" of Downtown Youngstown. He said the project would also aesthetically improve the Hazel and Phelps corridors between Downtown leading up to the Youngstown State University.

Optimistically, the mayor said he hopes something will be open for next summer. If not, the project completion date may not be until 2018. He said so far around $6 million has been authorized for the moving of dirt and moving of a sanitary line near the former Wean Foundation building. McNally estimates that the rest of the project may take between another $6 million to $7 million.