Neighborhood Profile Update: Garden District Neighborhood Profile updated!

The neighborhood profile for the Garden District has been updated. The profile before had the general outline of information for the Garden District. It now has more information regarding the neighborhood, including photos.

Zoning And Redevelopment Code Updates

Last week the City of Youngstown began the 11 neighborhood zoning meetings with the Salt Springs, Steelton, Lincoln Knolls, Brownlee Woods, Buckeye Plat, and Lansingville neighborhoods.  During these meetings citizens worked in small groups and suggested zoning improvements in their neighborhoods. The City of Youngstown has begun the process to undertake the task of restructuring the Redevelopment Code. The newly developed code will outline the land-use goals, as part of the Youngstown 2010 plan.  The citizens whom are involved in these meeting will have the opportunity to develop the future land use plan for their neighborhoods and the City of Youngstown.

There are seven Neighborhood Zoning Meetings left. If you live in any of the neighborhoods listed below, make sure that you attend to take advantage of the opportunity to make an impact on your community. If you don't know what neighborhood or cluster you live in click on map.

Meeting Date/Time              Cluster Number and Neighborhood                            

7/19  6:30-8:00 pm             #5 Erie, FLint Hill, Lower Gibson,Oak Hill,Warren.                                                                                                    At the Oak Hill Renaissance Center, 345 Oak Hill

 7/21  6-7:30 pm                 #8 East High, East Side, Hazelton                                                                                                                                    At the East High School, 474 Bennington Avenues

7/25 7-8:30 pm                 #3 Belle Vista, Schenley                                                                                                                                                 At  the Millcreek Davis Center, 123 McKinney Ave.

7/26   6-7:30 pm                #6 Cottage Grove, Idora, Newport, Pleasant Grove                                                                                               At  Newport Branch Library, 3730 Market St.

7/28  6-7:30 pm                 #10 Landsdowne, McGuffy Heights                                                                                                                        At the Assoc. Neighborhood Centers,  McGuffey  Centre, 1649 Jacobs Road

8/1  6-7:30 pm                   #11 Arlington, Downtown, Mahoning Commons                                                                                                                  Riverbend, Smoky Hollow, YSU                                                                                                                                    At the Trinity United Methodist Church 30W. Front Street

8/4 6-7:30 pm           #1 Brier Hill, North Heights, Wick Park                                                                                                                            At the Wick Park Recreation Center, 260 Park Ave. 

WE NEED YOUR INPUT TO MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE!

Ground Breaking On Global Green Urban Agriculture Project

Friday May 20 soil testing began in the Oak Hill neighborhood on various abandoned city lots.  Youngstown State University (YSU) students Mike Perry, Nate Wilson, and Danni Wilson collected soil samples on these city lots under the supervision of YSU Professor Dr. Felicia Armstrong and assistance from City of Youngstown Planning Fellow Jason Langer.  Pictured to the right, Mike Perry and Jason Langer collect composite soil samples from 6"-10" deep using a soil probe.  This group of researchers were collecting and analyzing soil samples for Global Green USA in partner with the City of Youngstown to see if there is any sort of contamination before any initial plans of planting produce on these lots progress.  Once the soil testing is complete the YSU researchers plan to put test garden plots on these areas to see how the plants grow and further analyze the bio-accessible contaminants on these lots.  The main potential contaminants of concern are likely heavy metals.  Graduate student Mike Perry is using this project as an opportunity for his thesis research.  Global Green plans to use these lots for a large scale urban agriculture project.  More updates and details about Global Greens project will be available upon its progression.

Population Distribution by Ward from 1990-2011

The recent available results of the 2010 Census show Youngstown's continually shrinking population to stand just short of 67,000 residents, which is down nearly 30% from the 1990 population of 95,706.  It is well known that Youngstown is a shrinking city, but what about the distribution of its population through the city's 7 wards, or which parts of the city is experiencing the majority of the population loss.

The following map shows the location of the 7 wards within the city

 The following chart show the population distribution by ward from 1990-2010

Ward 4 has lost the least amount of residents over all since 1990, making ward 4 the highest and most consistently populated ward since 1990.  The least populated ward from 1990-2000 was ward 1.  Since the 2010 Census data has become available the least populated ward is now ward 6, which has experienced a 45% population loss since 1990.  Wards 2, 3, and 5 have also experienced a population loss slightly above the city average loss of 30% since 1990.  Wards 1, 4, and 7 have experienced a loss below the city average of 30% loss since 1990. 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR FEBRUARY 2011

The City of Youngstown Community Development Agency (CDA) will be holding a series of meetings regarding the City of Youngstown's One Year  Action Plan to be submitted to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  The estimated amount that Youngstown is to receive from HUD is 5 million dollars.  The Community Development Agency is encouraging all interested citizens to attend one of the 4 meetings to give valuable input on the allocations of these funds.  Complaints will not be addressed at these meetings, they will mainly focus on the allocating resources within the plan.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011, 6:00 pm

Jewish Community Center, 2nd Floor, Board Room

505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown, Ohio

Thursday, February 3, 20l1, 6:00 pm
O.C.C.H.A.
3660 Shirley Road, Youngstown, Ohio

Tuesday, February 8, 20l1, 7:00 pm
I.T.A.M.
115 S. Meridian Rd, Youngstown, Ohio

Thursday, February 10, 20l1, 6:00 pm
Associated Neighborhood Center, Auditorium
1649 Jacobs Road, Youngstown, Ohio

An orientation session will be held Friday Feb.18,  2011, 10am at 

Covelli Centre

Community Room
229 E. Front Street
Youngstown, OH 44503

Applications will be available at this meeting for the 37th Year Community Development Funds.  All applicants are strongly recommended to attend.  The meeting is to help and facilitate the proper completion of the applications as well familiarize potential applicants with the process.  Funding priorities include: Housing; Public Services; Public Facilities; Youth Services; Senior Services; “Anti-Crime Infrastructure Planning”; Economic Development.  Only proposals consistent with the Youngstown 2010 Plan will be considered.

 Completed applications must be received in the CDA office no later than Friday, March 18, 2011 by 2:00 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.

For more information on either topic call the Community Development Agency at (330)-744-0854.

Brownlee Woods Neighborhood Update!

 Brownlee Woods is an elegant family oriented neighborhood located in Youngstown's south side.  Just recently the neighborhood received a way to express these key virtues to interested parties.  Under the Youngstown 2010 Plan every Youngstown neighborhood would receive a neighborhood profile on the City Of Youngstown Website.  The Brownlee Woods Profile, along with other neighborhood profiles, can be found by going to the city's website under the about tab, then click on the neighborhoods tab, and finally on Brownlee Woods.

Brownlee Woods also gets a new look with brand new custom street signs.  The City of Youngstown and the Brownlee Woods Neighborhood Association believes that these are unique street signs that the neighborhood residence can take pride in.  The Brownlee Woods signs are to be scheduled to be put up shortly.

Idora Neighborhood Streets Get a New Look

On Tuesday, November 9th 2010, the first of the new Idora Neighborhood street signs will be hung on the corner of Winona and Glenwood.  The public unveiling will take place at 3 p.m. The new custom designed signage depicts the neighborhood name in a raised center arch above the street name. Installation of the new neighborhood-specific signs represents the continued partnership between the City of Youngstown CDA and Idora Neighborhood Association in that area's ongoing revitalization. New signage for Idora is part of a specific strategy to increase neighborhood pride as outlined in the Idora Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan. By taking some extra time to compare pricing, the CDA was able to purchase the new signs at a reduced cost for Youngstown taxpayers. At $48.50 each, the total price for the custom-cut metal blanks and decals is a substantial savings compared to what the city has traditionally paid for its ordinary street signs. The CDA plans to work with Idora residents in installing the signs. Once these new street signs are in place, the CDA would like to target other City neighborhoods for custom signage, such as Brownlee Woods and Lincoln Knolls on the south and east sides of town, respectively. 

September 27th Youngstown Community Congress Gathering

On  Monday September 27th 6:30 pm in Downtown Youngstown at Trinity United Methodist Church, 30 W Front Street, join the MVOC and an anticipated 1,000 Mahoning Valley residence for the first ever Youngstown Community Congress.  It is free to attend and parking is provided across the street from the church. The reason for this gathering is for residence to have an opportunity to submit questions to important local and state officials as well as potential candidates.  Common topics could range from neighborhood and economic revitalization, clean up of local corner stores, and vacant land as well as land bank issues. The MVOC has invited the Governor, U.S Senate, Attorney General and other state and local officials.  Among those invited conformations have been received from Congressman Tim Ryan, Mayor Jay Williams, Yvette McGee Brown running mate to Governor Strickland, various city council members, Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains, and many more.

If you are interested in attending you can sign up and reserve yourself a seat by clicking here.

YNDC Executive Director Chosen

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development corporation has chosen Presley Gillespie as its executive director. You can read more about Gillespie in the Business Journal's article.