Owners of Realty Tower given July 5 deadline to begin demolition [Video]

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The owners of Realty Tower in Youngstown must begin tearing down the unstable building by late next week or face legal consequences, Mayor Tito Brown declared Tuesday.

In a press conference, Brown set a deadline of July 5 for the owners to begin demolishing the building, which suffered an apparent gas explosion late last month. The blast killed one person and injured nine, and those who both live and work inside the structure have not been allowed back inside since due to fears of a potential collapse.

Brown issued a statement on June 17 saying the owners of Realty Tower planned to demolish the building due to “significant concerns regarding the ability to safely stabilize the building. However, the mayor claims that process has yet to begin …