Strategy to improve Youngstown’s housing includes candid public input - WKBN


In developing a strategy to improve Youngstown’s housing, people were asked what is the most significant housing issue facing Youngstown today?”

The response, included in a final report, includes these comments: “rentals, group homes, slum lords, property values are so low, school system bad, taxes don’t compare to quality of life.”

Youngstown City Council approved the final report three weeks ago. Now it’s time to put it to use.

Councilwoman Basia Adamczak took a walk along Inverness Avenue with First News anchor Stan Boney. She says it is “one of the more stable neighborhoods in the 7th Ward.”

She points to the one and only lot within three blocks where a vacant house was torn down. Today, the neighborhood is stable.

“However, it is, unfortunately, almost at that tipping point where we have to try to fix some of the issues and concerns,” Adamczak said.

Adamczak brought with her the 140-page report outlining Youngstown’s Strategy to Improve Housing Conditions.

“I like that there’s now a plan rather than just demolishing houses. Also, save houses and also help those that have code enforcement issues,” she said.

Ian Beniston runs the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, which had a lot of input in the housing report.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.