MVOC Organizes Officials, Community Leaders To meet with Ohio Department of Development Officials
Group to discuss resources from the state to tackle foreclosure and vacant property crisis
YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown has the highest foreclosure rate and subprime lending rates in the State of Ohio and the resulting abandonment has left the city further challenged in its ongoing battle to address urban blight. Given this serious social and economic problem, Youngstown officials and citizens were rightfully pleased to receive news late last year that the federal government had passed the “Housing and Economic Recovery Act” of July 2008 which provides billions of dollars to cash-strapped local governments and states to acquire, demolish or rehabilitate homes vacated due to foreclosure. The City of Youngstown received a direct allocation from the Housing and Urban Development of 2.7 million; however, City of Youngstown Community Development Director William D’Avignon estimates that the cost to “stabilize” the City of Youngstown is $42.9 million. In addition to direct federal funding, the State of Ohio received $116 million in discretionary funds to additionally distribute to the areas of greatest need. In December, city and community officials submitted a formal request to the Ohio Department of Development asking for an additional $16 million, however, while Mahoning County as a whole received 2.9 million, the City of Youngstown received no specific funding from the State of Ohio’s NSP program.
As a result, the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative has secured a meeting with state officials to discuss the zero dollar allocation, state commitment to allocating other state resources to Youngstown to address the foreclosure and vacant property crisis, and current revitalization efforts that make Youngstown a strategic investment area. These efforts include but are not limited to: the nationally and internationally recognized Youngstown 2010 Citywide Plan, National Vacant Property Campaign Youngstown/Mahoning County Vacant Property Initiative, establishment of a county wide land bank, establishment of professional community organizing (i.e. MVOC), establishment of a multi-faceted, high capacity, city-wide community development corporation (i.e. Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation) and Congressman Ryan’s Urban and Suburban Communities Regeneration Act.
Tapazza would be a great fit downtown, however, the larger problem is lack of pre-ready available space and current market demand.
Most of the existing vacant buildings in downtown do not have a kitchen. Additionally, the Youngstown Initiative (which gave $100,000 start-up grants to downtown business and led to the boom a few years back) is no longer funded due to budget restrictions. Therefore, it becomes an enormous expense/risk for small business start-ups to build new in downtown. This also presumes that businesses can even receive a loan (see Bean Counter).
A built-in market is being developed in downtown which might help give start-ups more lines of credit in this economy, however, I think that we need to see the Realty Tower completed and all 23 units filled, work underway on the Wick Building, total infrastructure dollars in place and ground being turned regarding the first phase of Smoky Hollow, and the YSU business college open. That is about a 2-4 year window.
Also, keep in mind that a number of businesses at present are simply breaking even month to month and we new businesses (Lemon Grove, Downtown 36) that is scheduled to open (at some point) and - with the Fallen Firefighters Mem Bridge now reopened - Anthony's On the River plans to reopen. So, my point is, is that while there are a lot of great restaurants that would seem to be a good fit downtown, there is still a strong suburban market demand in the surrounding area and a question of saturation given at-present demand presents itself. We are all downtown patriots and we definitely want to see more, however, I believe we have a diverse selection at present that we need to continue to support as the downtown continues to gain more and more popularity and until a residential market is firmly established in the greater downtown Youngstown area. As these two aspect continue to develop, the demand will speak and more start-ups will deliver.
I agree completely. Trust me, there is no shortage of great ideas for downtown activity. It is a simple matter of resource. 2009 is going to be very, very difficult fiscally for the city and even further cuts will be made. As an insider and an active outsider of City Hall, citizens must understand that the waiting for the City to make things happen just isn't going to work. The City simply does not have the resources or the personnel to remain as proactive as it needs or would like to be. If the idea and organization behind the idea is good, they can and will assist but it's up to us to come up w/ the solutions and have them assit us in making it happen.
My opinion is that we need to form an organization much like Trumbull County's "Trumbull 100" which is a collection of the county's top fiscal elite. They have formed a trust fund with finical distribution largely dedicated to quality of life improvents for the Warren area. The best example I can provide would be the Warren Outdoor Amphitheater (a common-area entertainment venue that is DESPERATELY needed in downtown Youngstown). That project (among many other you'll find in downtown Warren) was funded by the T100. I think the formulation for a "Mahoning 100" is def. doable.
Despite the bite, I think you identify a few good points that a good number of folks here in the city fighting for advancement can agree with. My opinion.
It's a feature article in an extremely popular national magazine, Doc. They might not buy the mag BECAUSE of Ytown article but folks buy the magazine and read it, regardless.
A crime of this nature could have taken place in any other area because it was a matter of extreme opportunity. Because of the amount of cash stolen and because it happened to take place near Youngstown, OH, it becomes a story in which this particular journalist tried to draw a correlation and capitalize on it to enhance and dramatize his story, period. That's wrong.
Mr. Amsden was obviously looking for a particular background angle to accompany his reporting of the heist. No one can or will deny the socio-economic challenges of Youngstown. However, because of Youngstown's reputation for crime, his exploitation of these challenges makes him an opportunist. His angle is cheap and convenient it is done by stepping on the face of a community attempting to rise up and address such issues.
Does anyone seriously care what care what opinion of Dillon or Boyd's or their friends think of Youngstown? It's Amsden's justification for writing what he wrote. Because these two idiots live near Youngstown, that's why they stole $7.4 million dollars? No. They stole $7.4 million dollars because THEY COULD and they just happen to live near Youngstown, Ohio. Given the same scenario, they would have stolen that money if they lived in Akron, Columbus, Louisville, or Los Angeles. They were two individuals that were placed in a position of extreme opportunity to do something wrong on a grand scale and they chose to do it.
Like others articles before him (ex. Forbes), the Youngstown angle is parasitic in nature and is played out. There’s more happening in Youngstown than what is portrayed is superficial and dramatic pieces such as this one and most people who actually choose to take the time to look into this realize that.
The positive side of this (if there is one) is that only a short time ago, an article like this would have be demoralizing to the community. I see less of this today as the community appears less concerned about the opinions of outsiders and gradually more concerned and engaged in working on a number of initiatives to move forward. That’s a huge sign of progress, particularly in a place such as Youngstown where we can and often are our own worst enemies. Therefore, articles such as the Rolling Stone and Forbes should be used as fuel. The fact that we no longer accept these unbalanced attacks is a fundemental difference in today's Youngstown vs. its past the single greatest reason why things are begining to change. Hopefully, one day we will be able to look back on such articles and use them as gauges as to determine how much we have accomplished.
This is the first federal allocation of its kind (regarding demolition). The money comes from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). $260 million was allocated to the State of Ohio based on a formula created by HUD, however, there is no formula in place at the state level as to how these dollars were to be distributed. It was discretionary and the allocation Youngstown received (certainly in comparison to other urban centers in Ohio) was under funded, to say the least.
The effort now is two fold:
1. Short term: Lobby the state for more money through it's discretionary fund by making the argument that if Youngstown is able to receive nearly $10 million, the aprox 10 or 15 entire neighborhoods that make no sense to maintain any longer but yet create a great burden for the city to continue to absorb (as identified in the Youngstown 2010 Plan) can be completely eradicated and future demolition dollars for demolition in existing neighborhoods can be increased/stronger focus.
2. Create a formula (consistent w/ HUD principles) that the state can use so that discretion (i.e. political factor) can be eliminated (or minimized as best possible).
Important sidebar: An 8 month, 65 page, comprehensive Vacant Properties report on Youngstown (conducted by the National Vacant Properties Campaign www.vacantproperties.org) is nearly complete (I have read draft). It will greatly help aid with the education/organization piece attached to this effort (and future ones).
Now let's look at what is commonly called the Youngstown region:
251,026 in Mahoning County (OH) 217,362 in Trumbull County (OH) 118,551 in Mercer County (PA) 110,542 in Columbiana County (OH)
which in that same year of 2006 was 697,481 people
add the 91,795 people from Lawrence County (PA) which is less than two miles from the Youngstown city limits can you get a total of
789,276 people in 2006 for the Youngstown region.
Definitely larger than Alaska, and still, one of the top 100 largest metro areas in the United States even without Columbiana and Lawrence counties.
and the Youngstown region is smack in the middle, the central hub if you will, of the 7.5 million Cleveburgh mega-region.
An Executive and their administration must be able to present a platform that demonstrates an understanding of the issues that face such a large and important region as well as similar regions like it throughout the Midwest.
Asking for such a platform doesn't make left, right or a socialist. It makes me a good citizen willing to ask reasonable questions about the area I live, work, and fight for.
I'd be interested in asking Governor Palin a few questions regarding what her understanding is of the challenges that face post-industrial, Midwestern, urban centers such as Buffalo, Youngstown, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Flint, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, etc. or what her specific platform might include to address a number of important issues that would allow for such places to compete in a 21st century, knowledge-based, global economy.
Alone, the Youngstown metropolitan area (i.e. the Mahoning Valley) has a larger population than the entire state of Alaska. As the Mayor of a city of 9,000 and then Governor of a largely rural state completely removed from the mainland with a population smaller than our own area AND in addition to what I have seen from her interviews and the substance of her dialogue, I am concerned – and rightfully so – with the idea of Governor Palin (and administration that would accompany her) potentially serving as my Executive.
Posted on January 7 at 1:31 p.m.
MVOC Organizes Officials, Community Leaders To meet with Ohio Department of Development Officials
Group to discuss resources from the state to tackle foreclosure and vacant property crisis
YOUNGSTOWN - Youngstown has the highest foreclosure rate and subprime lending rates in the State of Ohio and the resulting abandonment has left the city further challenged in its ongoing battle to address urban blight. Given this serious social and economic problem, Youngstown officials and citizens were rightfully pleased to receive news late last year that the federal government had passed the “Housing and Economic Recovery Act” of July 2008 which provides billions of dollars to cash-strapped local governments and states to acquire, demolish or rehabilitate homes vacated due to foreclosure. The City of Youngstown received a direct allocation from the Housing and Urban Development of 2.7 million; however, City of Youngstown Community Development Director William D’Avignon estimates that the cost to “stabilize” the City of Youngstown is $42.9 million. In addition to direct federal funding, the State of Ohio received $116 million in discretionary funds to additionally distribute to the areas of greatest need. In December, city and community officials submitted a formal request to the Ohio Department of Development asking for an additional $16 million, however, while Mahoning County as a whole received 2.9 million, the City of Youngstown received no specific funding from the State of Ohio’s NSP program.
As a result, the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative has secured a meeting with state officials to discuss the zero dollar allocation, state commitment to allocating other state resources to Youngstown to address the foreclosure and vacant property crisis, and current revitalization efforts that make Youngstown a strategic investment area. These efforts include but are not limited to: the nationally and internationally recognized Youngstown 2010 Citywide Plan, National Vacant Property Campaign Youngstown/Mahoning County Vacant Property Initiative, establishment of a county wide land bank, establishment of professional community organizing (i.e. MVOC), establishment of a multi-faceted, high capacity, city-wide community development corporation (i.e. Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation) and Congressman Ryan’s Urban and Suburban Communities Regeneration Act.
Posted on November 21 at 10:21 a.m.
Mark King
Posted on November 20 at 11:44 a.m.
Tapazza would be a great fit downtown, however, the larger problem is lack of pre-ready available space and current market demand.
Most of the existing vacant buildings in downtown do not have a kitchen. Additionally, the Youngstown Initiative (which gave $100,000 start-up grants to downtown business and led to the boom a few years back) is no longer funded due to budget restrictions. Therefore, it becomes an enormous expense/risk for small business start-ups to build new in downtown. This also presumes that businesses can even receive a loan (see Bean Counter).
A built-in market is being developed in downtown which might help give start-ups more lines of credit in this economy, however, I think that we need to see the Realty Tower completed and all 23 units filled, work underway on the Wick Building, total infrastructure dollars in place and ground being turned regarding the first phase of Smoky Hollow, and the YSU business college open. That is about a 2-4 year window.
Also, keep in mind that a number of businesses at present are simply breaking even month to month and we new businesses (Lemon Grove, Downtown 36) that is scheduled to open (at some point) and - with the Fallen Firefighters Mem Bridge now reopened - Anthony's On the River plans to reopen. So, my point is, is that while there are a lot of great restaurants that would seem to be a good fit downtown, there is still a strong suburban market demand in the surrounding area and a question of saturation given at-present demand presents itself. We are all downtown patriots and we definitely want to see more, however, I believe we have a diverse selection at present that we need to continue to support as the downtown continues to gain more and more popularity and until a residential market is firmly established in the greater downtown Youngstown area. As these two aspect continue to develop, the demand will speak and more start-ups will deliver.
Posted on October 31 at 6:22 p.m.
I agree completely. Trust me, there is no shortage of great ideas for downtown activity. It is a simple matter of resource. 2009 is going to be very, very difficult fiscally for the city and even further cuts will be made. As an insider and an active outsider of City Hall, citizens must understand that the waiting for the City to make things happen just isn't going to work. The City simply does not have the resources or the personnel to remain as proactive as it needs or would like to be. If the idea and organization behind the idea is good, they can and will assist but it's up to us to come up w/ the solutions and have them assit us in making it happen.
My opinion is that we need to form an organization much like Trumbull County's "Trumbull 100" which is a collection of the county's top fiscal elite. They have formed a trust fund with finical distribution largely dedicated to quality of life improvents for the Warren area. The best example I can provide would be the Warren Outdoor Amphitheater (a common-area entertainment venue that is DESPERATELY needed in downtown Youngstown). That project (among many other you'll find in downtown Warren) was funded by the T100. I think the formulation for a "Mahoning 100" is def. doable.
Posted on October 29 at 10:19 p.m.
Nonsocialist:
Despite the bite, I think you identify a few good points that a good number of folks here in the city fighting for advancement can agree with. My opinion.
Posted on October 28 at 5:15 p.m.
Word.
Posted on October 8 at 4:25 p.m.
It's a feature article in an extremely popular national magazine, Doc. They might not buy the mag BECAUSE of Ytown article but folks buy the magazine and read it, regardless.
A crime of this nature could have taken place in any other area because it was a matter of extreme opportunity. Because of the amount of cash stolen and because it happened to take place near Youngstown, OH, it becomes a story in which this particular journalist tried to draw a correlation and capitalize on it to enhance and dramatize his story, period. That's wrong.
Mr. Amsden was obviously looking for a particular background angle to accompany his reporting of the heist. No one can or will deny the socio-economic challenges of Youngstown. However, because of Youngstown's reputation for crime, his exploitation of these challenges makes him an opportunist. His angle is cheap and convenient it is done by stepping on the face of a community attempting to rise up and address such issues.
Does anyone seriously care what care what opinion of Dillon or Boyd's or their friends think of Youngstown? It's Amsden's justification for writing what he wrote. Because these two idiots live near Youngstown, that's why they stole $7.4 million dollars? No. They stole $7.4 million dollars because THEY COULD and they just happen to live near Youngstown, Ohio. Given the same scenario, they would have stolen that money if they lived in Akron, Columbus, Louisville, or Los Angeles. They were two individuals that were placed in a position of extreme opportunity to do something wrong on a grand scale and they chose to do it.
Like others articles before him (ex. Forbes), the Youngstown angle is parasitic in nature and is played out. There’s more happening in Youngstown than what is portrayed is superficial and dramatic pieces such as this one and most people who actually choose to take the time to look into this realize that.
The positive side of this (if there is one) is that only a short time ago, an article like this would have be demoralizing to the community. I see less of this today as the community appears less concerned about the opinions of outsiders and gradually more concerned and engaged in working on a number of initiatives to move forward. That’s a huge sign of progress, particularly in a place such as Youngstown where we can and often are our own worst enemies. Therefore, articles such as the Rolling Stone and Forbes should be used as fuel. The fact that we no longer accept these unbalanced attacks is a fundemental difference in today's Youngstown vs. its past the single greatest reason why things are begining to change. Hopefully, one day we will be able to look back on such articles and use them as gauges as to determine how much we have accomplished.
Posted on October 3 at 2:43 p.m.
This is the first federal allocation of its kind (regarding demolition). The money comes from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). $260 million was allocated to the State of Ohio based on a formula created by HUD, however, there is no formula in place at the state level as to how these dollars were to be distributed. It was discretionary and the allocation Youngstown received (certainly in comparison to other urban centers in Ohio) was under funded, to say the least.
The effort now is two fold:
1. Short term: Lobby the state for more money through it's discretionary fund by making the argument that if Youngstown is able to receive nearly $10 million, the aprox 10 or 15 entire neighborhoods that make no sense to maintain any longer but yet create a great burden for the city to continue to absorb (as identified in the Youngstown 2010 Plan) can be completely eradicated and future demolition dollars for demolition in existing neighborhoods can be increased/stronger focus.
2. Create a formula (consistent w/ HUD principles) that the state can use so that discretion (i.e. political factor) can be eliminated (or minimized as best possible).
Important sidebar: An 8 month, 65 page, comprehensive Vacant Properties report on Youngstown (conducted by the National Vacant Properties Campaign www.vacantproperties.org) is nearly complete (I have read draft). It will greatly help aid with the education/organization piece attached to this effort (and future ones).
Posted on October 1 at 10:45 a.m.
Nonsocialist:
(From ShoutYoungstown.com):
670,053 people lived in Alaska in 2006.
Now let's look at what is commonly called the Youngstown region:
251,026 in Mahoning County (OH)
217,362 in Trumbull County (OH)
118,551 in Mercer County (PA)
110,542 in Columbiana County (OH)
which in that same year of 2006 was
697,481 people
add the
91,795 people from Lawrence County (PA) which is less than two miles from the Youngstown city limits can you get a total of
789,276 people in 2006 for the Youngstown region.
Definitely larger than Alaska, and still, one of the top 100 largest metro areas in the United States even without Columbiana and Lawrence counties.
and the Youngstown region is smack in the middle, the central hub if you will, of the 7.5 million Cleveburgh mega-region.
An Executive and their administration must be able to present a platform that demonstrates an understanding of the issues that face such a large and important region as well as similar regions like it throughout the Midwest.
Asking for such a platform doesn't make left, right or a socialist. It makes me a good citizen willing to ask reasonable questions about the area I live, work, and fight for.
Posted on September 30 at 7:50 p.m.
I'd be interested in asking Governor Palin a few questions regarding what her understanding is of the challenges that face post-industrial, Midwestern, urban centers such as Buffalo, Youngstown, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Flint, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, etc. or what her specific platform might include to address a number of important issues that would allow for such places to compete in a 21st century, knowledge-based, global economy.
Alone, the Youngstown metropolitan area (i.e. the Mahoning Valley) has a larger population than the entire state of Alaska. As the Mayor of a city of 9,000 and then Governor of a largely rural state completely removed from the mainland with a population smaller than our own area AND in addition to what I have seen from her interviews and the substance of her dialogue, I am concerned – and rightfully so – with the idea of Governor Palin (and administration that would accompany her) potentially serving as my Executive.