Hi Mr. Warshauer: I’m really glad to know that it will go forward! I was a member of Donna DeBlasio’s YSU class, and your associate (or maybe it was Ron Faniro’s associate) was the one who unlocked the building for us to get in. Yes, it is very dangerous, and believe me, I only go into buildings where I have permission to enter! Wow, we were guessing that the cost would be a minimum of $10-20K! Guess our class really underestimated! I did not go into the basement, but the photos tell the story. I hope that you have a copy of those by now. If not, Dr.DeBlasio does. If there is anything I can do to help you get this building back in shape, just let me know. I don’t know about getting the money, maybe grants would be available. Also, would the city maybe know of where some money could be obtained? I’m thinking of the Youngstown 2010 project. Maybe the Paramount could be part of it?
Hi! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back with you. My old computer wouldn’t let me do it, but hopefully my new one will! We went in and took pictures, and well, it is a mess. There is debris all over the floor. There are places on the main floor where the ceiling has caved in, and there is rhebar hanging down. Also, some of the more adventuresome of my group went into the basement, and they noticed that the bricks of the foundation appear to be badly decayed. There are stalagtites hanging down through some of the bricks, and that indicates massive water damage. Also, there are places where the water has eroded the concrete so much that only the rhebar is there. Some people went on the mezzanine, and there is debris all over there, too. The breaker boxes are still there, but the levers are rusted over and difficult to move. There is an area directly above the stage where you can see a large hole in the roof. I’m not a structural engineer, so I would definitely recommend that Mr. Warshauer go in there with a structural engineer to really take an in-depth look at it to determine if it is salvageable. I would love to see it returned to its former glory, perhaps of the 1920s or 1930s. There are areas where you can still see the ceiling corbelling (scroll work) especially near the mezzanine and also corbelling in the plaster on the walls toward the front, near the stage. And I do think that downtown Youngstown could really use the economic shot in the arm that a historic theater district (I guess you could call Youngstown itself an historic theater district with Stambaugh, Powers, and possibly the Paramount) would give it. Good Luck!
Hi! I am taking a class at YSU. We are working with the architect of the Paramount restoration to document it. I will be able to get inside it and take photos, however, the photos are the property of YSU, and I probably won’t be allowed to post them here (sorry). But I will try to post here and let you know what’s happening in the building itself. I don’t have any “insider” information on what the building will be used for after the restoration, but just my opinion here, I’d like to see it used as a theater again. It could be used for either movies or live productions. This would keep it in its historic context, and would also help the Youngstown economy, as people (and money) would be brought into Youngstown once this is reopened. Anyway, just my thoughts, and I look forward to getting back to you with more info as I have it.
Hi Mr. Warshauer: I’m really glad to know that it will go forward! I was a member of Donna DeBlasio’s YSU class, and your associate (or maybe it was Ron Faniro’s associate) was the one who unlocked the building for us to get in. Yes, it is very dangerous, and believe me, I only go into buildings where I have permission to enter! Wow, we were guessing that the cost would be a minimum of $10-20K! Guess our class really underestimated! I did not go into the basement, but the photos tell the story. I hope that you have a copy of those by now. If not, Dr.DeBlasio does. If there is anything I can do to help you get this building back in shape, just let me know. I don’t know about getting the money, maybe grants would be available. Also, would the city maybe know of where some money could be obtained? I’m thinking of the Youngstown 2010 project. Maybe the Paramount could be part of it?
Hi! Sorry it has taken me so long to get back with you. My old computer wouldn’t let me do it, but hopefully my new one will! We went in and took pictures, and well, it is a mess. There is debris all over the floor. There are places on the main floor where the ceiling has caved in, and there is rhebar hanging down. Also, some of the more adventuresome of my group went into the basement, and they noticed that the bricks of the foundation appear to be badly decayed. There are stalagtites hanging down through some of the bricks, and that indicates massive water damage. Also, there are places where the water has eroded the concrete so much that only the rhebar is there. Some people went on the mezzanine, and there is debris all over there, too. The breaker boxes are still there, but the levers are rusted over and difficult to move. There is an area directly above the stage where you can see a large hole in the roof. I’m not a structural engineer, so I would definitely recommend that Mr. Warshauer go in there with a structural engineer to really take an in-depth look at it to determine if it is salvageable. I would love to see it returned to its former glory, perhaps of the 1920s or 1930s. There are areas where you can still see the ceiling corbelling (scroll work) especially near the mezzanine and also corbelling in the plaster on the walls toward the front, near the stage. And I do think that downtown Youngstown could really use the economic shot in the arm that a historic theater district (I guess you could call Youngstown itself an historic theater district with Stambaugh, Powers, and possibly the Paramount) would give it. Good Luck!
Hi! I am taking a class at YSU. We are working with the architect of the Paramount restoration to document it. I will be able to get inside it and take photos, however, the photos are the property of YSU, and I probably won’t be allowed to post them here (sorry). But I will try to post here and let you know what’s happening in the building itself. I don’t have any “insider” information on what the building will be used for after the restoration, but just my opinion here, I’d like to see it used as a theater again. It could be used for either movies or live productions. This would keep it in its historic context, and would also help the Youngstown economy, as people (and money) would be brought into Youngstown once this is reopened. Anyway, just my thoughts, and I look forward to getting back to you with more info as I have it.