Neighborhoods

The City of Youngstown is getting innovative, in their fight against blight.

When you think of the United States Air Force and all the ways they help our nation, tearing down blighted homes may not come to mind. But, like any other civil engineers, they also need training.

"They do everything from HVAC to electrical, to plumbing and carpentry. This is an opportunity for them to operate heavy equipment, get training in equipment they might not normally see at the Air Reserve Station," said Col. James Dignan with the 910th Airlift Wing.

Teaming up with the city, the Youngstown Airmen will provide the man power needed to help tear down about a dozen homes near Taft Elementary School.

In exchange, the city will provide them the experience and equipment they need to do the job.

"We're going to use their staff, basically free labor to help us with a lot of demolition," said Mayor John McNally.

The Air Reserve Station will also help the city with other projects, like hanging up street signs in the Third Ward. The task may seem small but, McNally says about 600 signs in that area of town are in need of an upgrade.

The hope is that the partnership will lead to some larger projects over the next several years.

The city has already applied for a grant that would utilize the U.S. Department of Defense on a much larger scale.

"We're using the work that's going to be done in the Taft School area as sort of a model program, to see how it works and hopefully convince the folks in Washington this is something that would be more worth while over a larger stretch of the south side, the north side and the east side," said McNally.

The demotion is expected begin sometime next month.

To see the full story from WFMJ, click here.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

YNDC worked with the City's Parks Department to write a grant application to the Hine Fund for the installation of universally-designed splash pads at city parks.

On June 18, 2015, the Youngstown Foundation awarded $35,000 for the project and construction is set to begin this summer. Funding will support the construction of splash pads in John White Park, on the east side, and Homestead Park, on the south side. Splash pads are water-based recreation areas consisting of water jets and sprinklers that provide a cool place for kids to play during the summer. The splash pads will be universally designed, which means they will be accessible to all youth, regardless of disability status. Children in wheelchairs will be able to enter the barrier-free play area and the splash pads provide an alternative to swimming pools, which often cannot be used by youth with disabilities. YNDC and the City's Parks Department would like to thank the Hine Fund and the Youngstown Foundation for its generous support of the project.

Monday, June 22, 2015

On Friday, June 19, YNDC received an AmeriCorps Formula Grant award of $172,903 from ServeOhio and the Corporation for National and Community Service, which will enable YNDC to expand to 13 AmeriCorps members for the second year of the YNDC REVITALIZE AmeriCorps Project.

The YNDC REVITALIZE AmeriCorps Project includes a team of city residents who dedicate a year of service at YNDC boarding up, cleaning up and rehabilitating vacant homes to help stabilize neighborhoods. Since the project began in September of 2014, AmeriCorps members have helped to board up over 370 vacant homes in 20 neighborhoods across the City of Youngstown and have contributed to the rehabilitation of 9 vacant homes. As part of their participation in the program, AmeriCorps members gain professional construction and landscaping experience and training and are eligible to receive an award to further their education upon successful completion of their service year. YNDC anticipates recruitment for the 13 AmeriCorps positions to begin in July, with a start date in early September.

Monday, June 22, 2015

In June 2014, YNDC began operating the community toolshed formerly operated by the Neighborhood Improvement Corps.

YNDC has increased the inventory and usage of the toolshed over the past year. Currently there are more than 65 unique and active borrowers.

The toolshed inventory includes: garden tools and items, extension cords, brooms, a belt sander, a circular saw, a fertilizer/seeder, a drill, a finishing sander, hoes, hoses, ladders, corded electric lawn mowers, painter’s plastic, pitch forks, a post hole digger, a pressure washer, rakes, shovels, corded electric hedge trimmers, a tunner bar, corded electric weed wackers, and hammers. To use the toolshed you must call YNDC at 330.480.0423 and make an appointment. No walk in requests to borrow are accepted.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

YNDC received an award for $15,000 from the Thomases Family Endowment to support efforts to implement the Crandall Park Neighborhood Action Plan and improve neighborhood quality of life on Youngstown's north side.

Funds will be used to board up and clean up vacant properties, rehabilitate vacant homes to create quality homeownership opportunities, and for neighborhood marketing and signage in the Crandall Park area in conjunction with the recommendations of the plan.

The Thomases Family Endowment of the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation supports initiatives that focus on social justice, social services, education, and cultural programs in line with the values of Irwin Thomases, who created the Endowment upon his death to continue his philanthropic work.

Thursday, June 25, 2015

YNDC Executive Director, Ian Beniston participated in the SC2 National Resource Network Peer Convening in Miami, Florida from June 24 through June 26.

Nearly 120 city attendees representing 43 different communities attended the event to discuss best practices and learn from one another.

Ian is a member of the national steering committee of the NRN. The national steering committee guides and advises the work of the NRN.

The National Resource Network is a core component of the Obama Administration’s Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2) initiative, and develops and delivers innovative solutions to American cities to help them address their toughest economic challenges. The Network works with local leaders to identify practical solutions, share real-world expertise and best practices, and help cities develop the tools and strategies they need to grow their economies.

The 20 Federal Place building, owned by the city, will lend a hand – to wit, utilities — to NYO Property Group as it prepares to open Wick Tower.

Under the lease the Board of Control approved Thursday morning, NYO will place its heat exchanger in the basement of 20 Federal Place and run piping into the Wick Tower that would furnish its tenants with heat, Law Director Martin Hume said. In addition, NYO will run pipes from a chiller on the seventh floor of 20 Federal Place for six months.

“Thereafter they’re going to get their own chiller,” he said.

NYO will pay $8 per million Btu for use of the chiller system as well as the rate the city is charged for electricity to run the heat exchanger, he said.

The building, slated to open in August, will have 33 fully furnished apartments and 16 extended-stay units, according to the NYO website. NYO officials were out of town Thursday and unavailable for comment.

The agreement with the downtown developer was among several items – including a lease for a local job-training agency and contracts to provide funds to help a small business and address neighborhood blight – the board approved.

Mahoning and Columbiana Training Association will move to Suite 604 in 20 Federal Place from the City Hall Annex in August under the lease approved Thursday.

The annex building is being renovated to house the municipal courts, their offices and that of the clerk of courts. Strollo Architects is vacating its 8,500-square-foot suite in 20 Federal to move into the Wells Building downtown.

“We’re excited that [MCTA] still wanted to stay in the city and are able to move over,” said Sean McKinney, city building and grounds commissioner. Under the terms of the 20-year lease, MCTA will pay $8.50 per square foot for eight years, with increase in the ninth and succeeding years based on the rate of inflation.

MCTA had intended to move into Suite 601, which has 11,899 square feet, but VXI Global Solutions has expressed interest in the space should it decides to again expand in the building. McKinney said the call center has not committed to such an expansion. The call center is the largest tenant, occupying all of the fourth and fifth floors, part of the second floor and a suite on the ground floor, where its employee recruitment center is.

The board – which consists of Mayor John McNally, Finance Director David Bozanich and Hume – also approved a Youngstown Initiative program performance grant of $6,141 to help KBC KIDZ LLC with its $61,416 expansion.

KBC, which plans and hosts children’s birthday parties, intends to add seven employees over three years, said Tom DeAngelo, economic development coordinator. Funds will be used to support the additional employees and acquire equipment, such as costumes for the themed parties, he said.

DeAngelo is working with the company, which operating out of the Oak Hill Collaborative, to find a building in the city.

In addition, the board approved an agreement with Oak Hill Collaborative, which is acting as fiscal agent for $50,000 the city is providing to help open Café Augustine in the Newport branch of the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County. Oak Hill has taken the role because the café is “a relatively new nonprofit,” Bill D’Avignon, community development director, said.

D’Avignon also sought and received approval for contracts that total more than $540,000 with Youngstown Neighborhood development Corp. Services YNDC would provide include boarding up vacant houses, cleaning up neighborhood and repairing owner-occupied houses, D’Avignon said.

To see the full story from the Business Journal, click here.

Monday, June 29, 2015

YNDC Executive Director Ian Beniston, YNDC Neighborhood Stabilization Director Jack Daugherty, and YNDC Housing Director Tiffany Sokol have successfully completed the requirements for the National Development Council’s Housing Development Finance Professional certification.

The four week long classes were taught by the National Development Council and sponsored by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency and Ohio Community Development Corporation Association. The three completed the classes over the past ten months. The certification is an industry standard for individuals in community and housing development and the completion of this course is part of YNDC's ongoing effort to build its capacity to complete a broader scope of projects at a larger scale. REVITALIZE.

Monday, June 29, 2015

YNDC's blight fighting army continues to grow with the addition of team members through the Mahoning Columbiana Training Association's (MCTA) Summer Youth Employment Program.

The program provides young people age 16 to 24 with paid work through the summer. YNDC is participating in the program and the participants are working to fight blight throughout the City of Youngstown. They are cutting grass at vacant homes, boarding up vacant homes, and assisting with other neighborhood projects. Many participants will also have the opportunity to enlist in YNDC' s year long AmeriCorps REVITALIZE program.

The William Swanston Charitable Fund today announced $321,000 in 2015 grants for 10 initiatives focused on health and wellness of at-risk children, including new programs to connect more physically challenged kids to adaptive sports and support safer conditions in city neighborhoods.

The Swanston Children’s Fund, which is dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk children, also announced continuing support for ongoing health and fitness programs in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

“We are impressed by the initiatives local leaders are crafting to create more opportunities for local children to lead healthier, safer and more fulfilling lives,” said Paul M. Dutton, chairman of the Swanston Children’s Fund.

“Each of these programs addresses the harsh challenges confronting many at-risk children in our community,” he continued. “The Swanston Children’s Fund and the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley are proud to be associated with each of these initiatives and we appreciate the professionals who are working hard to meet the needs of at-risk children.”

Highlights of this year’s grants include $37,000 to expand two programs rooted in adaptive sports and recreation activities for children with disabilities.

Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio plans to expand its wheelchair basketball, softball, hockey and track programs for children and teenagers into Trumbull County. The organization plans to use its $25,000 Swanston Children’s Fund grant to buy more equipment and boost outreach activities.

ASP Ohio, based in Wooster, started adaptive sports programs in Mahoning County last year and recently opened a satellite office in Youngstown.

Meanwhile, Children’s Rehabilitation Center is expanding its year-old “Investing in Fitness for the Physically Challenged” initiative. Programming for the center’s $12,000 grant includes more exercise opportunities at the Howland center and off-site and sharing each child’s specific care plan with school officials and doctors to encourage routine participation in healthy lifestyle activities. The expanded effort also includes work with physical therapy, exercise science and nutrition students from nearby universities.

The Swanston Children’s Fund also approved $32,000 for the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.’s “Better Block” program, which will stage day-long festivals in two neighborhoods this year and two in 2016 to showcase their potential for healthier and safer conditions.

Better Block, a success in Cleveland, Nashville, Indianapolis, Portland and other large U.S. cities, “temporarily transforms city streets into safer and more inviting pedestrian areas,” the YNDC said in its application for the grant. The program promotes walking, biking, community pride and collaborative solutions that reduce crime and boost safety.

The events will feature temporary changes to traffic flows, bicycle lanes, outdoor eating and socializing areas, bicycle drawings, helmet giveaways, health fair activities, kids’ games, cooking demonstrations and local food and entertainment. The activities will be organized by teams of neighborhood residents and experienced organizers.

A similar week-long event in East Nashville recently ignited commercial development in a “highly distressed corridor,” the YNDC told Swanston Children’s Fund grant reviewers. “Dozens of developers and entrepreneurs contacted festival operators and property owners during the event to inquire about buying or leasing space in the neighborhood,” the YNDC said. “A year later, six spaces had begun renovation and a highly rated restaurant had opened in the neighborhood.”

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