Realty Tower Demolition Timeline Announced

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Youngstown Prepares for Realty Tower Demolition Following Gas Explosion
Summary:
Efforts are underway to demolish the heavily damaged Realty Tower in downtown Youngstown following a gas explosion on May 28 that caused extensive damage and resulted in the evacuation of nearby buildings. YO Properties 47 LLC, the building’s parent company, aims to complete enough demolition by August 2 to reopen the adjacent International Towers and Stambaugh Building. However, a demolition permit has yet to be submitted, and preparatory structural steel work is required before demolition can commence. The city is pressing for a swift but safe demolition process to restore normalcy downtown. The explosion, triggered by a crew mistakenly cutting into a gas pipe, led to one fatality and several injuries. Despite calls to stabilize the 101-year-old historic building, engineering assessments have deemed long-term safety unfeasible, necessitating its demolition.