Transparency and Accountability Link Posted Online

The CDA has posted its transparency and accountability page on the CDA website. The link shows records of NSP grant spending, which will total $2,7 million. You can see how much money has been appropriated to the following areas:

• Administration


• Demolition


• YNDC Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation


• YMHA Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation


• City Acquisition and Rehabilitation

You can also view information about targeted demolition areas along with specific addresses, and you'll be able to see what contractors are responsible for these jobs. NSP funds have already gone to over 20 demolition contracts, and over $500,000 has been spent on demolition.

A fresh look through a new lens

Saturday morning the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, a newly formed non-profit CDC, toured the Idora Neighborhood with residents from the neighborhood, community organizers, and myself.

David Boehlke from New Orleans, LA and Joel Owens from Akron, two nationally recognized community development experts, joined the tour. It was interesting to get an outside perspective on the overall condition of the neighborhood. These two agreed that there are more opportunities in this neighborhood than challenges.

The modest and affordable housing offers a unique marketability for reestablishing homeownership. The neighborhood is comprised of approximately 750 housing units, of which 67 percent are owner-occupied.

NSP funds will be targeted in the neighborhood to remove 48 abandoned houses and conduct acquisition and rehabilitation of a minimum of six housing units. CDA has already completed 17 owner-occupied housing projects with $450,000 of HOME, CDBG, and Lead abatement funds. The Idora Neighborhood will be the first of the Youngstown 2010 “model of sustainability” projects.

Transparency & Accountability

We will be posting at www.cityofyoungstownoh.com a transparency and accountability link that will contain records of NSP grant spending. In looking at the records, you’ll be able to see how much of the $2.7 million of NSP funds are being spent by category for each activity including:

Administration
Demolition
YNDC Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation
YMHA Housing Acquisition and Rehabilitation
City Acquisition and Rehabilitation

This is in keeping with the Obama Administration’s desire to be accountable to the public for stimulus program spending. Information will be available about specific areas that are targeted for demolition. The public will be able to view contractors as well as addresses for each activity. Providing this level of detail will be an ideal way for the public to track the improvements made at a neighborhood level.