Efforts continue to tear down former Coitsville Twp radio station
A multi-year effort to tear down a former radio station in Coitsville Township continues months after a grant to tear the building down expired.
The building has been sitting on the property since 1954.
But without maintenance, it’s catching the eye of township officials and a Youngstown nonprofit owner.
“If you’re going to let it sit there and neglect and get worse, just let it come down, just take it down. But if you’re going to repair it, repair it, and not add more blight to an area where we already suffer enough,” said Million Perry-Phifer, owner and chief executive officer at the Persayus Way Project.
The building that sits on the property on North Blaire Avenue has holes on the top and side of the roof, boarded up windows and is surrounded by uncut grass.
“It’s too far gone. There’s very, very big holes in the roof. You see big, huge eagles flying in and out of there. The grass isn’t being maintained. You can tell that the property has been neglected,” said Perry-Phifer.
Karl Bloom, owner of Bloom Broadcasting LLC, took ownership of the building in 2024, but Perry-Phipher said he was still involved with the property ownership when he called about the building in 2021.
“In so many words, he told me that they make money off the antennas being there. They don’t have no plans on repairing the building or selling it, and the building will remain there as long as the antennas are there,” said Perry-Phipher. “I asked him, you know, do you think that’s fair to the community that this building gets to sit here with holes in the roof and in this type of condition with the grass not cut? And he chuckled, and the conversation ended at that.”
In 2024, Coitsville Township Zoning Inspector Mike Kurilla said they were working with the Mahoning County Land bank in an effort to get rid of structurally defective buildings, and even received a grant to help with the effort.
Trustees voted to take down the former radio station, and Bloom did not request an appeal.
But Roger Smith, Land Bank Director of Planning, said the power runs from the building to a smaller building, and needed to be cut before demolition.
Smith said the owner did not get permission to cut the power, meaning the building could not be torn down.
The grant money to tear down the building expired four months ago, and the problem fell back into the hands of the Coitsville Township Trustees.
Rebecca Mickler, Coitsville Township Trustee, sent 21 News a statement, addressing the township’s next steps:
“At this time, Coitsville Township plans to consult with the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office regarding next steps related to the property matter at 401 N. Blaine Avenue. We are committed to addressing the situation appropriately and in accordance with all legal procedures.”
Perry-Phifer also said he would be willing to pursue legal action if necessary.
“We have real estate attorneys, and we have attorneys already ready if they don’t cooperate with the city, or you know, us as a nonprofit organization willing to help them, you know, we definitely will take legal action,” said Perry-Phifer. “That is already a high area where a lot of trash and stuff is being dumped, so just to have the building there looking like that doesn’t make it any better, because someone can think that’s a dump site and they’ll start dumping there.”
21 News also reached out to Bloom, who said he has no comment because attorneys are involved.
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