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NILES -- Now that the former Reisman Furniture store building off South Main Street has been demolished, city officials said the former Robins Theatre next to it is set for demolition next week.
Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz said at Wednesday's city council meeting he believes demolition on the theater building should begin next week, with Dore Inc. doing the work.
He said equipment, including a high reach excavator, is on site in the downtown area.
"The entire Reisman building has been completely demolished. They should be ready to go on the rest of the building," Mientkiewicz said.
The Reisman Furniture store and the Robins Theatre have been vacant for a long time.
The theater closed in the late 1960s.
The two buildings are among 181 in Trumbull County that are set to be demolished.
Mientkiewicz said the $350,000 project is funded primarily through a demolition grant from the Ohio Department of Development.
After all the demolition is completed, there is a $3 million request submitted to Governor Mike DeWine's Appalachian Community Grant Program with the project one of more than 30 included in the grant.
"The program is a regional approach that will bring in a substantial amount of money for revitalization efforts throughout the tri-Valley area," Mientkiewicz said.
He said he should know whether the city will receive that funding in the coming months.
The funding would not only go to the downtown development, but also the canoeing and kayaking site near the Mahoning River.
He said Niles has a downtown revitalization project, which includes the theater building property, as well as canoe and kayak launch sites along the Mahoning River in the downtown area.
Mientkiewicz said once the theater is demolished, Niles will retain the property for future development as an "urban entertainment area" for community events, food trucks and musical programs.
The city's comprehensive plan, which was passed by council Wednesday at second reading, has downtown area lawn space for small gatherings and organized events such as concerts and markets.
In other business, council gave second reading on prohibiting drones from being flown in designated areas of the city.
Mientkiewicz said the drone ordinance is being passed by many communities to be in compliance with the comprehensive military compatibility zone with the Vienna Air Base and the county planning commission.
"They want to make sure such devices do not impede air base operations and safety forces operations," he said.
While the legislation would ban drones in many areas, Second Ward Councilman Aaron Johnstone said the parks and grounds committee met and drones would be permitted in parks for recreational purposes.
He said they have spoken to the parks and recreation department on what rules and regulations would need to be followed for flying drones in the parks.
Mientkiewicz said drones would not be permitted to be flown over utility substations and electric substations.