Press Coverage

Students from Youngstown State University are trying to fight blight, and they are starting with vacant houses in their own backyard.

Jerry Hughes has lived in his East Lucius Avenue home for about 16 years.

Call it a military fight against blight.

Air Force Col. James Dignan already is fielding calls from around the country about a soon-to-be-launched initiative that would Air Force reservists to work by helping tear down blighted houses in a city neighborhood.

The city finalized an agreement with the Youngstown Air Reserve Station that will start with the demolition of 12 vacant structures and could evolve into an effort to have reservists do much more in Youngstown.