Chamber Seeks Project Manager of 422 Corridor Redevelopment - Vindicator

The search for a project manager to oversee the U.S. Route 422 corridor redevelopment tentatively will be underway by the end of next month.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is working on a draft of the job description and seeking funds for the project manager, said John Rossi, president of the Youngs-town/Warren Regional Chamber Foundation.

The redevelopment is spearheaded by the chamber, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and the Trumbull County Board of Commissioners.

Rossi said the goal is to start evaluating potential candidates by the end of March.

Ian Beniston, executive director of YNDC, said the project manager would help increase the momentum of the initiative.

However, some progress has continued with the redevelopment of the corridor, according to a 2014 report.

“We have several action teams working on this,” Rossi said.

On the neighborhood front, Girard and Trumbull County have demolished houses on Belgrade Avenue and Dearborn, Davis and Howard streets.

Additionally, the YNDC and city of Youngstown boarded 17 vacant homes in the Brier Hill neighborhood. A community neighborhood cleanup also is being planned for spring. Beniston said volunteers would be needed for that project.

According to the report, sidewalk improvements for the Parkwood neighborhood are scheduled for this year through the Community Development Block Grant Neighborhood Revitalization Program. The Appalachian Regional Commission also is scheduled to fund waterline improvements.

Further, a grant request exceeding $68,000 was submitted for the construction of a Mahoning River boat launch with parking and access near River and Front streets. Girard also is pursuing measures to initiate large improvements at the waste-treatment plant in the corridor.

The Regional Chamber also is focusing on economic development in the area, Rossi said. Vallourec Star sponsored the first business association meeting at the end of last year, which identified common area challenges and opportunities.

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