City Advances Development of Eastside Renewal Area

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The city hired MS Consultants Inc. today to provide professional engineering and survey services for one of four areas it is looking at potential redevelopment.

The Board of Control this morning approved the $70,500 agreement with the Youngstown engineering consulting firm for services related to the Youngstown Near Eastside Neighborhood Renewal Area. The 23-acre site is between Oak Street, Himrod Avenue, the Madison Avenue Expressway and Hine Street.

The administration proposed to City Council “some time ago about repurposing areas throughout the city from current land uses to industrial green to make room for redevelopment and to have property that we can make available for businesses,” said T. Sharon Woodberry, director of community planning and economic development.

In February, the city hired CT Consultants, Youngstown, to perform a slum and blight analysis on the four areas totaling 135 acres that had been identified for potential redevelopment. Other areas covered included the “Wick Six” area along Wick Avenue and several blocks bordered by Market Street and Oak Hill Avenue.

The city received the last of the four studies this week, Woodberry reported.

Once the Eastside area survey work is finished, a budget will be developed . The residential area has several vacant structures and six occupied houses.

Residents “will be encouraged to relocate” and the city already has started to make offers to property owners, Woodberry said.

The city next will move forward with a “full-blown plan” for the Wick Six property, an area populated by several former automobile dealership buildings, she said.

The board also entered into a neighborhood planning service agreement with Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. for $30,000. YNDC will continue to coordinate with neighborhood action teams and monitor implementation progress for the 10 neighborhood action plans.

“It’s been very well received from the neighborhood groups,” Woodberry said. “I think most members are pleased with how things have been progressing so we want to continue that ongoing engagement.”

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