We have real news, and it's the best kind: action is happening.
River News is reporting exclusively that Total Finance — the new ownership — has already responded to the City of Steubenville. In correspondence obtained by River News, Bill Johnson of Total Finance acknowledged the "substantial deferred maintenance" inherited from the previous owner and formally pledged that Total Finance "commits to cooperating with the city and complying with all applicable codes and regulations."
That is a named individual, on paper, making a formal commitment to this city. You can read the full article here: River News: Fort Steuben Mall owners did reply to the city contrary to public opinion
I'd like to believe that this petition is part of why that statement exists. Keep signing. Keep sharing.
Now — one specific ask that can't wait.
Six months is a reasonable window to address the building issues. We understand that. But six months from now is November. You cannot pour asphalt in November in Ohio. Paving season in this region effectively ends in October at the latest, and patching requires temperatures above 50 degrees to hold.
If a full parking lot overhaul isn't in the budget or timeline for this year, we understand that too. But we need two things from Total Finance before summer ends:
First, emergency patchwork on the most dangerous holes — specifically the clusters at the main mall entrance, the area adjacent to the handicapped spaces, and the main driving path between Texas Roadhouse and the mall entrance. These cannot wait for a master plan.
Second, a committed long-term timeline for full resurfacing and re-striping, in writing, so this community isn't having this same conversation in 2027.
The building took years to fall apart. We're patient on the big rebuild. We are not patient about a pothole that's 105 inches long sitting next to a wheelchair-accessible parking space while the ground is still workable.
Total Finance has shown they are listening. Let's make sure the parking lot is part of the conversation before the window to fix it closes for another year.
Sign, share, and stay with us.
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Fix Fort Steuben Mall Community Action
FixFortSteubenMall@proton.me