SitemapFor nearly a year, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. has been offering short-term rentals through Airbnb.
Airbnb allows property owners to rent rooms, apartments or houses to people on a short-term basis on its website, Airbnb.com. It is frequently used as an alternative to hotels.
Ian Beniston, executive director of YNDC, said the top-floor unit in a three-family dwelling the organization owns at 928 Canfield Road was so small they started looking into models for it outside of traditional rentals.
“We thought maybe this would be useful not only for us, but for the neighborhood,” Beniston said.
YNDC decided to offer it as a furnished room for short-term stays. The unit did well, so it also began to rent out half of a duplex at 866 Canfield Road that is occasionally used to house Americorps National Civilian Community Corps teams.
“Instead of letting that unit sit empty, we’re able to rent it short-term on Airbnb,” Beniston said.
Beniston said the guests range from people in town on business to people visiting family to people enjoying Mill Creek MetroParks. The duplex at 866 Canfield Road is a block from Lanterman’s Mill.
Though the units aren’t constantly occupied, Beniston said they are booked more days than not.
The third-floor unit at 928 Canfield Road costs $85 per night, and the duplex, which has two bedrooms, is $100 per night. Beniston said they offer discounts for longer stays.
The reviews of the units on Airbnb are overwhelmingly positive.
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