Neighborhoods

A new comprehensive plan was unveiled Friday afternoon with a wide range of recommendations to improve the U.S. 422 corridor near the Youngstown and Girard border.

The plan took more than a year to develop and focuses on identifying key opportunities for new and existing businesses and utilizing natural assets such as the Mahoning River and Mill Creek Park. But it starts with cleaning up the area and stabilizing residential areas.

“That’s everything from maybe litter pickups to start on a smaller scale into building and zoning issues, blight and ultimately up to economic development and infrastructure improvements, utility improvements for further industrial and economic development,” said John Rossi of the Regional Chamber.

Chamber officials hope to remove the clutter and turn the corridor into a park-like setting. As part of the plan, the Mahoning River, Mill Creek Park and the Western Reserve Greenway Bike Trail are essential to attracting new business.

“Very important not only for recreational opportunities, but to bring that natural aesthetic up to the vantage point of the road and highway,” Rossi said.

The total price tag to make all the improvements could run up to nearly $41 million over the next 10 years. Officials with the Regional Chamber said they will submit the plan, and state and federal grants will help fund the projects.

“Then they start piggybacking each other and then they continue and that is how the plan gets done. It will not happen overnight, we know that. But you know what? It took 30 years for some development to happen,” said Girard Mayor Jim Melfi.

To see the complete plan, click here.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

It became possible for the U.S. Route 422 Redevelopment Plan to take shape with collaboration across county lines between public and private entities.

The plan is to improve the corridor from Youngstown to Girard as the region’s gateway to jobs by making it aesthetically pleasing, to unlock the potential of land for job growth, to support and market local businesses, stabilize residential areas and activate natural assets.

This was the message heard at the unveiling of the corridor plan that the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, Youngs-town Neighborhood Development Corp. and Trumbull County commissioners worked on for nearly a year with Interface Studio LLC of Philadelphia.

“I think we have a pretty good shot at having a significant impact on the area, and I think maybe some of the goals and priorities will change as the area changes,” said John Rossi, project facilitator. “If you drive up and down, you can see the improvements that have already been made.”

Some of those improvements include litter pickup, demolition and street resurfacing.

From 2010 to 2012, Lien Forward, which has since switched to the Mahoning County Land Bank, went into the area to remove garbage and knock down abandoned, dilapidated houses after V&M, now known as Vallourec Star, wanted to have the area cleaned up and supported some of the demolition.

“We wanted to see things that were a little more eye-pleasing instead of overgrown and under-loved, and we had safety concerns,” said Deb Flora, executive director of the land bank.

Additionally, trees and flowers were planted and islands were created.

“We also coordinated litter collections. We were doing two to three litter collections a year,” Flora said. “It was meant to change people’s perspectives.”

The new master plan allows for large and small opportunities including developing pockets for industry along the corridor. The plan also gives the project a vision to help earn some grant money along the way to fund projects.

“The next step is implementation and funding,” Rossi said.

Area officials were at the announcement Friday and offered their thanks to the partners on the project to make the plan happen.

“I thought we were thinking out of the box,” said James Melfi, mayor of Girard. “We recall how this corridor [once looked]. We were taking someone else’s perspective and now I am lucky enough to see the good of the area.”

To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here.

A grand opening was held Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the start of a new farmers market in the Idora Neighborhood on the city’s South Side.

The market is at the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Sherwood Avenue. More than 10 stands were set up with plenty of fresh items.

It is a place to get farm-fresh products and people also can get plants and seeds so they can grow their own produce.

“They seem to be expanding a lot in our area at least. There is the B & O Station, the market that started there a couple years ago and now there is this one. It has been growing a lot. I see a lot of new people at the markets every week,” said Rick Price of the Iron Roots Urban Farm.

The farmers market will take place every Tuesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. through September.

For a list of area farmers markets, click here.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

Danielle Seidita is thrilled to see a once-blighted piece of city property become the site for a new farmers market that sells healthful, organically grown foods.

The market also promises to foster a different kind of growth.

“The market is important in the neighborhood and will provide a place for the community to come,” said Seidita, market manager of the Idora Neighborhood Farmers Market, 2600 Glenwood Ave., on the city’s South Side. “This will help alleviate not having access to locally grown foods.”

The farmers market debuted Tuesday and is open from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday through Sept. 30. Hosting the gathering was the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., a neighborhood development organization launched in 2009.

Dozens of people came to the market’s first day to speak to and buy from vendors offering everything from assorted greens to specialty coffees to zucchini, cucumber and sweet-basil plants.

Some bought broccoli and other types of organic seeds from Kathryn Hatch, who, along with her husband, Charles, runs The Zaney Pearl of Leetonia.

“We bought a farm in 2009 and have been slowly growing since then,” Kathryn explained, adding that she encourages healthful cooking practices and wants people to better understand the origins of their foods.

A sampling of Hatch’s products included bags of organic salad mix for $3 each as well as fruits for $1 and $2 apiece.

Plenty of basil, romaine lettuce, beets, tomatoes and peppers were available, courtesy of Iron Roots Urban Farm, a Canfield Road training facility for those who wish to start urban farms and sell their merchandise.

“It’s nice to see how things have grown for the city,” said Rick Price, a YNDC member and apprentice farmer.

The farmers market also will attract more vendors, bring in new customers and be a positive force in the area, Price continued.

For those with a bit of a sweet tooth, Terri Vicars had on hand white-chocolate-cherry, honey-roasted, Ohio-maple and other types of peanut butter.

Vicars, who runs Boardman-based Our Village Kitchen, noted that his foods are made and stored at the Commonwealth Kitchen Incubator on the city’s North Side. Proceeds are being used to help a Case Western Reserve University student from Ethiopia with her tuition, he noted.

Other businesses included Dandelion Lane Farm of Columbiana, which offered free-range chicken as well as organic coffees and teas, Carol’s Homemade Baked Goods, and Marcie’s Homemade Jams, which Marcie Roepke, a Boardman artist, was selling for $5 a jar.

To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here.

The next step in the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.'s plan to revitalize the historic Idora Park area got underway Tuesday with the debut of the Idora Neighborhood Farmer's Market.

Eleven vendors, offering diverse products such as vegetables, peanut butter and tea -- all locally produced -- set up shop on an empty lot at the corner of Glenwood and Sherwood Avenues.

Among the vendors was the Iron Roots Urban Farm, a farm created by YNDC to address the “food desert” that exists in the area. Now, by offering multiple outlets to get local food, people on the city's south side have an opportunity to help in the revitalization, organizers say.

“It keeps the money within the city instead of buying from a grocery store that's based out of somewhere not in the area, and the food comes from California or wherever. It's money from local people that goes right to the farmer,” said Rick Price of Iron Roots Urban Farm.

The market, which will be held every Tuesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., also helps YNDC in its mission to help improve the city.

“The more positive activities there are for the community, the more chances Youngstown has to bounce back and continue to grow,” said Danielle Seidita, the market manager. “The farmer's market is a great place for everyone young and old to come. Youngstown definitely needs these gathering places to build a great city again.”

To help city residents get more healthful foods, all vendors accept food stamps, which is a “good step in promoting food equality,” Seidita said.

Dozens of people showed up for the first day of the market. With the surge in popularity of farmer's markets in the area, including Northside Farmer's Market and the B&O Night Market, event organizers are hoping for sustained success, Price said.

A positive response from the community was evident almost immediately, as people started showing up 30 minutes before the market opened. Marcie Applegate, who operates Marcie's Homemade Jams, commented that the market is a new avenue to build camaraderie for the neighborhood.

“It's really satisfying. It's nice to talk to people about the things I grow and the things I make. It's a good place for the community to come together,” Applegate said. “It brings people together, people who wouldn't normally come out to these things.”

While the first harvest hasn't come in yet for most of the vendors, there was a still a variety of products that attracted customers and convinced some to return in the coming weeks.

“The variety is great. We'll get our eggs here now that we know it'll be here every [Tuesday],” Mike Humes said.

Humes, who grew up in the area, added that amenities like the Idora Neighborhood Farmer's Market are signs that the area is rebounding.

“It's great. I grew up not far from here and it was terrible to see the area go downhill and now I'm seeing it come back,” Humes said. “It puts a whole new reflection on the whole area. It really does.”

To read the full story from the Busines Journal, click here.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

On Tuesday, June 10th, the Idora Neighborhood Farmers’ Market hosted a Grand Opening to celebrate the start of the market season.

Vendors at the Grand Opening included Carol's Homemade Baked Goods, Dandelion Lane Farm, Her Primitive Ways, Iron Roots Urban Farm, Marcie Applegate's Gardens, Our Village Kitchen, Rocky Ridge Gardens, Rosemont Farm, Roxbury Pizza Company, Shelli's Cookies, The Baking Arts, The Big Green Thing Food Truck, and The Zaney Pearl. 

The market will take place outdoors Every Tuesday from 4:30pm - 7:30pm through September 30, 2014, and is located at 2600 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio 44511, at the corner of Glenwood Avenue & Sherwood Avenue. The market will also feature special events including food sampling, cooking demos, free raffles, and more throughout the summer. Upcoming events include a Grilling Demo with Danny Catullo and Catullo Prime Meats on June 24th and Humility of Mary Health Partners Health Fair on July 15th.

The Idora Neighborhood Farmers’ Market is a farmer-only, safe, family-friendly environment. We are committed to food equality, accepting Ohio Electronic Benefit Transfer cards; Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) coupons; and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons.

The market is hosted by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. For questions about the market or to get involved, contact:

Danielle Seidita, Farmers’ Market Manager

Phone: (330)480-0423

Email: dseidita@yndc.org

With childhood obesity numbers in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties above the state average, the William Swanston Charitable Fund today presented a $150,000 grant June 12 to the Mahoning Valley Healthy Kids Coalition.

Among the members of the coalition are Akron Children's Hospital Mahoning Valley, schools in Mahoning and Trumbull counties the Youngstown Central YMCA.

In Mahoning County, 38.2% of students in third grade are overweight or obese, says Akron Children’s, while the figure in Trumbull County is 43.3%. The state average is 34.7%.

“Childhood obesity has become one of the most important public health issues in the United States,” said Elena Rossi, the associate chairwoman of the department of pediatrics at Akron Children's Mahoning Valley. “These children live with health issues that, until recently, were reserved for their parents and grandparents.”

Among the diseases associated with childhood obesity are high blood pressure, diabetes and depression.

JoAnn Stock, director of development for Akron Children's Mahoning Valley, said that the plan, which begins in September, will focus on three areas: prevention, intervention and awareness.

The prevention aspect will include a series of workshops for parents and incorporate the Akron Children's future fitness program.

Intervention will address the problems of overweight children through physical fitness programs.

The final area, awareness, will offer information programs aimed at children to teach them the importance of good nutrition and benefits of physical activity. The programs will be offered in libraries and health fairs held in schools in the two counties.

Paul Dutton, chairman of the William Swanston Charitable Fund, said that the goal of the coalition is to reduce the number of overweight and obese children in the two counties as well as, over the next five year, to make students and their parents more aware of the toll childhood obesity takes.

“You can't deal with problems that are beyond your control. Childhood obesity is within our control,” Dutton said. “If you start at a young age and educate, you intervene and you provide a knowledge base, hopefully these young children will grow into adults in a healthier way.”

Dutton also announced $94,390 in grants to the Camelot Center's New Kids at Camelot summer program, the Children's Rehabilitation Center, Daybreak Youth Crisis Shelter, the Trumbull Head Start and the Resource Mothers program, a collaboration involving Humility of Mary Health Partners, Help Hotline Crisis Center and Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.

Campbell Works for Kids was also awarded a $150,000 grant to fund services such as after-school learning programs, anti-bullying programs and teacher seminars.

Dutton said the programs were chosen because they address the health and physical needs of children but are separate from the Mahoning Valley Healthy Kids Coalition.

To read the full story from The Business Journal, click here.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

On Thursday, June 12th, a media event was held to highlight the progress made to date in revitalizing the Powerstown Neighborhood on Youngstown’s southeast side through the collaborative efforts of several community groups, local government, and other local organizations who joined forces to begin implementation of a neighborhood action plan through a series of workdays, board ups, home repairs and rehabilitations, code enforcement, and land bank foreclosures.

Representatives including Bill D'Avignon from the City of Youngstown, 7th Ward Councilman John R. Swierz from the Powerstown Action Committee, Roger Smith from the Mahoning County Land Bank, Richard Shafer from the Home Savings and Loan Company, Christopher Travers from the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition, and Ian Beniston from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation provided brief comments on their roles in the process.

The event was held at 3405 Lenox Avenue, a formerly vacant REO property donated by the Home Savings and Loan Company, rehabilitated by Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, and recently sold to a new homeowner.

Nancy Ramos never dreamed she would be a homeowner, but thanks to a program from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation in the Powerstown neighborhood, her dream is now a reality.

"It's 3 bedrooms, what I love most, is I have my own bathroom in my bedroom.," said Ramos. "I'm so high on life right now, this is such a big blessing."

Home Savings and Loan donated the formerly vacant house to the YNDC, who renovated the property, and then sold it to Ramos for $25,000.

It is all part of an effort by several local organizations to revitalize what they call a "tipping point" neighborhood.

"Without action like this, it can backslide very rapidly into deterioration and blight," said Chris Travers, with the 7th Ward Citizens Coalition.

Nancy will close on her house in just a couple of weeks and while she settles in, revitalization efforts will continue. Officials said they have to build on the momentum of this victory here. In fact, their next project is right across the street.

"In the long term you'll see the suppression in the number of foreclosures in the neighborhood, you'll also see a rise in property values, which is really going to help our area," said Travers.

Giving Nancy Ramos and others like her, the opportunity to live the American dream.

To see the full story from WFMJ, click here.

As in many areas of the city, the Powerstown neighborhood on the southeast side has fallen on hard times.

“Pit bulls, prostitution, drugs, guns,” Mary Krupa, treasurer of the Powerstown Block Watch, said when asked about the neighborhood. “We have some really deteriorated properties.”

But Krupa and others in the neighborhood have hope the area can be revitalized.

A key step was highlighted Thursday with a press conference to talk about the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.’s improvement and sale of a house at 3405 Lenox Ave., which had been in foreclosure and in bad shape, to Nancy Ramos. The sale should close in a week or two.

“The neighborhood is very excited,” Krupa said. “This will be the trigger to help this neighborhood. This is a start, and we hope it builds.”

Home Savings donated the house to the YNDC, which spent $20,000 to improve the three-bedroom Cape Code house and is finalizing a $25,000 sale to Ramos, who’s lived in Boardman the past seven years.

Ramos said she’s thrilled to move into the neighborhood.

“This is my first house; I’ve rented before,” she said. “I’m so excited. That’s why I can’t stop smiling.”

The YNDC is in the process of doing a similar rehabilitation project to 3402 Lenox Ave., across the street from Ramos’ house, said Ian Beniston, the agency’s executive director, who was officially promoted to that job Monday by the YNDC board of directors after four years as deputy director.

Since January, the YNDC has boarded up nine vacant properties in the neighborhood, he said.

The neighborhood is bounded by Midlothian Boulevard on the south, Loveland Road on the east, Poland Avenue on the north and Interstate 680 on the west.

There are about 30 houses identified by the YNDC in need of demolition and dozens that are not up to city code, with most of them concentrated on and near Lenox, Point View and Nelson avenues, Comely Street and Powers Way.

“We still have work to do, but things are getting much better,” said Nora Seivert, president of the Powerstown Block Watch.

To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here.