By Edward P. Noga
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – In August 2019, I wrote my first article for this journal. I based it on “A River Runs Through It,” the 1992 movie starring Brad Pitt about brothers growing up in rural Montana who spent much of their time fishing. The film was based on Norman MacClean’s 1976 book.
I chose the topic because the river in the movie was picture-perfect and the scenery surrounding it spectacular. I made the contrast with growing up in our Valley where our river, the Mahoning, was basically a dumping ground for the area’s mills. Whether being used for cooling the mill’s machinery or as a sewer for mill refuse, our river was abused and, well, anything but picturesque.
For many decades, however, the mills that lined the river were a job and immigrant magnet. I went on to gratefully acknowledge that efforts are in place to clean up the river and adjoining banks to provide a starting point for the river’s redevelopment.
Fast forward to September 2023, when I submitted an article to The Business Journal about a trip I took down the Mahoning River with Captain Mario, a YSU grad who has studied the river and periodically guides folks down it. Along the way, he pointed out the cleanup efforts and predicted that dam removal along the river would eventually have a tremendous impact on giving the river a new identity.
And then a few months later, I wrote about local construction company owner and longtime Valley resident Dan O’Horo, who said to me, “Someday … there will be houses and apartments and condos on these river banks.”
As these articles made their way into print, the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments was working diligently on some very basic studies and information gathering about our river that came together in a community video titled “Mahoning River Corridor Restoration.” Watching the video, I became convinced that the future of our river is people oriented and will include walkways, bikeways and housing.
It is incredibly exciting to see the artist renderings of development all along the river. The term “rebranding” is used a lot these days as companies, businesses and organizations look at their past and plan for the future. Now that term is being applied to the Mahoning River, and the rebranding is taking huge steps forward as a multiyear plan of removing nine dams in the river will significantly improve the quality, safety and use of the waterway.
Also important, I think, are the current initiatives to provide new housing in the cities along the river. Last year, Warren’s Peninsula Park announcement, coupled with condo development on Lowellville’s riverbanks, Struthers City Hall’s interest in new housing and several housing initiatives in Youngstown (including some new homes close to the river), brought new energy from visionary city leaders who see the possibilities of the river that runs through our Valley.
How great it is to see community leaders and officials push for the dreams of progress to be put on paper by architects and community planners so we can see what is possible now that wasn’t possible just several years ago.
A regular rewatching of the five-minute Eastgate video is a thought-provoking reminder of the river revival that is in process and is continuing to promote lively discussion from Newton Falls to Lowellville.
In the early 2000s, then-Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams talked often about the benefits of forming Joint Economic Development Districts as a powerful tool for economic growth in the Valley. If you look up JEDDs (as they are called), you will find a description of how two or more government jurisdictions (like a city and contiguous township) can jointly develop commercial or industrial land. A good example is the Vallourec facility that was jointly developed by Youngstown and Girard.
When Williams first talked about JEDDs, there was skepticism among some civic leaders. Williams was a civic prophet of sorts when he first made the proposals and, like many prophets, he got quite a bit of push-back. Time has proven across Ohio that JEDDs are very beneficial when developed properly. The bigger reality is the notion of jurisdictions working together.
The cooperative philosophy behind JEDDs can certainly be adapted by leaders of the communities that border our river. If they do this, the river that runs through our part of Ohio will benefit all the bordering communities. Those who work in and guide our various communities – small and large – have a unique opportunity to rebrand our river, our communities and our Valley.
