Murphy’s Law is alive and well and living in the heart of the Mahoning Valley.

The major provision of that law — “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong” — has been enforced excessively throughout downtown Youngstown in recent years. The impact has resulted in delay after delay after delay on critical downtown projects.

Witness the city hall fire escape melodrama. When the project to repair the structure began in March 2023, officials estimated snappy completion in a few short months. Twenty months later, city council chambers remain off limits to public meetings.

Or witness the dizzying detours and anguishing traffic mazes throughout the downtown area as most major thoroughfares have been reinvented as part of a $27 million infrastructure modernization program.

And witness the delays in the demolition of the Realty Tower after a devastating gas explosion there last May. That project that left a gaping hole on Central Square required 11 weeks to complete, rather than the optimistic six to eight weeks initially envisioned.

Of course, these delays and the discombobulation they wrought did not result from any intentional desire to stick it to the patrons of the downtown area and prolong their anguish. Simply put, stuff happens.

Nonetheless, after a seemingly endless chain of chaos and consternation for vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the central city, patience among many has worn thin as a rail.

With that in mind, city leaders must double down to ensure upcoming major projects do not suffer the same dreary and tortoise-speed fate. The biggest such project with the greatest risk of more intolerable problems and delays lies in the shadow of Central Square — 20 Federal Place.

That nine-story office building that has sat empty for about two years on the city’s main drag stands as one of the most critical pieces of the city’s urban redevelopment puzzle.

It’s best known to old-timers in the Valley as the flagship of Strouss’ department stores. Many fondly remember the large crowds of animated shoppers navigating its many floors of retail and restaurant space from 1906 to 1986.

Since the store’s closure, the building had remained open and had enjoyed moderate success, but in recent years, many prime tenants had cleared out and the need for repurposing it became painfully clear.

At 20 Fed’s closing, its occupancy rate was a paltry 20%, placing added financial strains on its owner, the city of Youngstown.

Those falling trend lines, however, could soon rebound fast and furiously if the city can come to terms with a potential redeveloper.

We realize, however, that “if” is a colossal one.

The city is negotiating with Bluelofts, a Dallas urban redevelopment firm specializing in converting large empty office buildings into affordable urban housing.

Although many details remain under wrap, the project would convert the building into about 125 housing units. Bluelofts emerged as the only company to submit a proposal for reinventing the historic structure.

That, however, does not seem to faze those spearheading planning for the project. Doug Rasmussen, CEO and managing principal of Steadfast City Economic & Community Partners, the city’s St. Louis-based consulting firm on the 20 Federal Place project, said the Bluelofts proposal is trending well. City economic development officials reportedly have said they are pleased with the proposal and believe Bluelofts’ plans match the city’s vision for the development.

The Texas company just last summer opened a similar, yet much larger, project in downtown Cleveland. That $100 million project involved renovating the16-story former Ohio Bell building into about 360 apartments.

Can such success be replicated in downtown Youngstown?

One has reason to be skeptical, given that delays already mar the project’s timeline. A formal presentation by Bluelofts to city council scheduled for mid-November was placed on indefinite hold. Officials say additional time was needed to iron out details before going public with it. They also vow a decision to accept or reject the proposal will be made by year’s end.

We will hold their feet to the fire on that commitment with hopes that the project, which already has received millions of dollars in historic tax credits, will get the green light. If, however, major problems with the company or its proposal are uncovered, we would understand Youngstown’s need to start the process anew.

We hope that’s not the case and that action to reinvent the building can begin early in 2025. The city has had more than its fair share of stalled starts to grandiose plans. Let 20 Fed finally free downtown Youngstown from the grips of Murphy’s Law.

editorial@tribtoday.com