City of Youngstown closes its case against failed Chill Can plant owners
The City of Youngstown has officially closed its case against the owners of the failed Chill Can plant.
According to court documents filed on Wednesday, the city has chosen not to go forward with a hearing asking for attorney fees in addition to the $2.33 million already paid to the city by the MJ Joseph Development Corporation, who owns the land that was supposed to house the Chill Can plant.
The city says it will not be asking for any additional relief beyond the restitution already paid to the city.
This ends the long legal battle between the city and the MJ Joseph Development Corporation, who originally broke ground for the plant on Lane Avenue between Oak Street and Himrod Avenue back in 2016.
Jose Rivera, the only resident left on N. Lane Ave., along which the property sits, says he's relieved and optimistic.
"Maybe they can find a good company to come take it over," he said. "There's great space for something to happen here."
The company promised to be fully operational by 2018 and create about 250 new jobs for the city. However, that never happened.
Now, Rivera says the city cut off power to the three vacant buildings, and that overgrown weeds and grass have left it infested with groundhogs.
"I can't even plant a garden anymore," he said.
A foreclosure suit filed by engineering and architect firm MS Consultants is still ongoing. MS Consultants is asking for the facility and its property to be sold in order to repay the debt owed to to the firm.