VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio – As Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership continues work on four houses on the site of the former Emerson Elementary School, the organization is planning to construct up to four more houses on the site of another former school property.
At its monthly meeting Wednesday morning, the Western Reserve Port Authority Board of Directors approved accepting the former East Junior High School property on Bonnie Brae Avenue Northeast from Warren City Schools. A few minutes later, the board voted to sell the 1.16-acre property to TNP for $500.
“We are acquiring the site to pursue the new construction of single-family homes, building off of the success of similar efforts on the former Emerson school site on the northwest side of Warren,” said Matt Martin, TNP executive director.
The initiative represents “a successful strategy” that TNP would like to continue, said Nick Chretien, planning and regional development manager for the Western Reserve Port Authority. One of the four houses at the Emerson property is completed, 1575 Drexel Ave., and is listed for sale for $180,000.
The other three should be completed by the end of the year, Martin said.
“These former school sites are ideal for infill housing based on their locations within residential neighborhoods, and the fact that they are larger than the average residential lot.”
Affordable workforce housing is “a major issue” in the area, and demand will only grow with projects such as Kimberly-Clark Corp.’s $800 million manufacturing plant that is under construction, board member David Detec said.
“The need is great, and it’s only going to get worse,” he remarked.
The state of Ohio recently announced a $25 million residential economic development district grant program, Anthony Trevena, the port authority’s executive director, told the board. The program is intended to support housing initiatives within 20 miles of a major economic development project.
Nearly all of Mahoning and Trumbull counties would qualify for the competitive grant program, said Krista Beniston, economic development program manager at Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.
“It’s a great opportunity to extend the infrastructure in communities. We found four housing developments that are just stuck because they can’t extend water and/or sewer,” said Jim Kinnick, Eastgate executive director.
Representatives of Eastgate and Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, which are spearheading a local housing initiative, have been meeting with area communities to identify opportunities and potential roadblocks. Eastgate also is preparing to bring on additional expertise to address public financing, tax abatements and credits and other elements to help complete the financial stack for such projects.
At the top of the meeting, the board also recognized the late Jack Sullivan, a 45-year employee at Youngstown-Warren Regional airport, which the port authority operates. In addition, members recognized another longtime employee, security and compliance coordinator Afrodite Altieri, who marked her 25th anniversary with the port authority Nov. 13.
Pictured at top: The completed house at 1575 Drexel Ave.