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Committee advances ordinance to revert zoning on three lots to allow senior housing after Austintown explosion
Summary
A Struthers council committee moved an ordinance forward to rescind conditional zoning on three city lots so they can be used for senior housing to rehouse residents displaced by an Austintown building explosion; officials said dozens are being housed temporarily in a hotel at substantial cost.
The finance and legislation committee moved forward an ordinance to rescind conditional zoning on city lots 3100, 3101 and 3102 so the parcels revert to commercial C-1 and can be used for senior housing, Mayor Mueller said at the Struthers City Council caucus on Nov. 24.
"This will allow some housing," Mayor Mueller said, describing collaboration with United Way, Direction Home Ohio and other local partners after an explosion in Austintown left multiple residents displaced. Council members and staff said roughly 65–70 individuals were being sheltered at the Baymont Hotel in Boardman and that the hotel stay was costing more than $60,000 for a two-week period.
City staff discussed housing logistics, including that many displaced residents are single, largely seniors with medical needs who rely on caseworkers. An engineer’s estimate cited at the meeting placed elevator repairs at the affected building at roughly 8 to 12 months, meaning some units will remain uninhabitable until repairs are done, the transcript shows.
Council made a motion to "bring it out" of committee and a second was recorded; no formal recorded roll-call vote or final adoption appears in the transcript. The motion advances consideration of the ordinance so council can take it up on the next agenda.
Officials said they are coordinating with HUD to use vouchers as a pass-through where possible and with partners including Direction Home and MyCAP to screen and place residents. Council members also discussed background checks and screening for any residents placed in rehabilitated units; staff said they would arrange screening if required.
Next steps: the ordinance was advanced out of committee for further consideration by the full council; no final vote or implementation timeline was recorded in the caucus transcript.
