YOUNGSTOWN — A long-closed downtown building is expected to reopen this summer.

The city’s design review committee on Tuesday approved signage for the opening of the Purple Cat Disco Garden at 107 W. Federal St.

The Purple Cat was founded in 2003 to offer day-program alternatives for adults with disabilities.

The new business will sell snacks, crafts and plants, among other items, said Jill Prencevic, Purple Cat’s director.

An affiliated business, Jack Rabbit LLC, purchased the building at 107 W. Federal St. for $30,000 on Jan. 24, 2011, from the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp.

It has sat vacant and boarded up for several years.

“It took us a long time to figure out what we were going to do and we decided to proceed with a little store,” Prencevic said.

The store should open in the summer, she said.

It will occupy the first floor of the two-story building, Prencevic said.

A decision on what to do with the upper floor hasn’t been made, she said.

The West Federal Street building is a short distance from the Purple Cat location at 11 S. Phelps St.

Also Tuesday, the design review committee approved a request for a $20,000 facade grant by the owner of Quik Mart at 1305 McGuffey Road.

The committee backed the request after postponing the vote during the three previous meetings because Bobby Singh, the owner, didn’t provide enough information. Those designs were provided Tuesday.

The business is planning a $43,200 project for siding and concrete work; the installation of gutters, downspouts and canopies; and the replacement of its parking lot.

City council in December 2022 approved setting aside $1 million of Youngstown’s $82.7 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the business facade program. It allows eligible companies to receive up to $20,000 each to help pay for the cost of exterior improvements.

In order to get the grants, companies have to obtain permission from the design review committee. Companies must show they are paying at least half of the cost of the work being done.

The facade grants are forgivable loans with a five-year term. Every year a business remains open at their location in the city, 20% of the loan is forgiven until it reaches 100% in five years.

The committee has authorized 54 businesses to receive grants from the program.