WARREN – As the bricks and metal beams from the walls of the Austin Village Plaza are knocked to the ground and loaded onto waiting tractor-trailers, critics of the oft-delayed demolition project are relieved that they may see the long abandoned shopping area cleared.

“While this has taken a while, they are now doing the right thing in tearing this down,” said Dennis Blank, an activist and local blogger. “Austin Village Plaza is on such a visible entranceway to the city of Warren that the previous deplorable condition of the plaza created an unnecessary negative impression of the city.”

Mayor Doug Franklin said the city expects the work to be completed within the next 10 days to two weeks.

“I am thankful we now have responsible contractors working at the site,” Franklin said. “This is something that has affected the entire neighborhood. I am glad it is coming to a conclusion.”

The demolition of the property was delayed in October when the contractor hired by Paran Management Ltd., the owner of the plaza, was ordered to stop work due to various violations of its registration issued by the city.

The company, All Demolitions Inc., had failed to comply with instructions to place an 8-foot-tall fence completely around the site during demolition process, did not remove a combustible portion of the site that it previously took down before it moved to a different section as ordered, and the company was alleged to have brought onto the site materials from a different construction project in Youngstown, according to city Building Official Chris Tanneyhill.

At the time the company was ordered to stop working, Mark Mirich, owner of All Demolition Inc., said he could have completed the project within three weeks.

When Tanneyhill issued the order for Mirich to stop working, he said the company had 30 days to appeal the order. Mirich did not file an appeal, according to Tanneyhill..

Last month, Paran hired M&M Inc. of Vienna to complete the work started by All Demolition Inc., including the placement of the fence around the property, removal of asbestos materials, tearing down the remaining buildings, provide solid fill for the basement, removal of debris, level and place sod on the surrounding area.

The company is paying M&M Inc. $45,000 to complete the project. It is expected to be completed by Jan. 15. Tanneyhill, on Friday, said the work on the site is about 70 percent complete.

The city, working with Joe Shafran, owner of Paran Management Ltd., has for five years been trying to either get new businesses onto to the site or have it torn down for development.

In 2011, wind speeds around the plaza were measured to determine if it would be feasible to build a wind turbine built on the property. The turbine would be used to generate power either to be sold back to the grid or to sell to private companies.

“Joe was one of the first businessmen I spoke to when I was first elected to council,” Councilman Eddie Colbert, D-7th Ward, said. “He was very interested in having a turbine placed on the property.”

Colbert said he doesn’t yet know the results of the study, but “I do know that, as of last month, Mr. Shafran still was very interested in having a turbine placed on the property.”

The councilman suggests that the cleared plaza, along with the city-owned Westlawn property and Warren City Schools-owned former Western Reserve School property could be developed into a business and technical campus for new companies and spur economic development.

“One or more of the companies that get their start in downtown’s Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center may decide to move onto these properties,” Colbert said.

Later this year, West Market Street will be resurfaced from its border with Leavittsburg to the corner where Market and South streets intersects.

“Having these improvements will help existing businesses like Caesars Restaurant, Chat & Chew, Tata Steel, the Rebar factory and others,” Colbert said. “A cleaned-up area may make the city more attractive to businesses looking to relocate somewhere in this area.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com