YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Two vacant lots are becoming new homes as a neighborhood revitalization effort continues to reshape the city’s East Side.
Ian Beniston, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., and Marguerite Douglas, a Lincoln Knolls neighborhood resident, discuss the groundbreaking of two new single-family homes in the Lincoln Knolls neighborhood, part of a collaborative effort led by YNDC, the city of Youngstown and the Mahoning County Land Bank.
Beniston says the homes on Mumford Circle and Liberty Road continue YNDC’s strategy of combining new construction with rehabilitation projects to attract homeowners and strengthen neighborhoods. The new ranch-style homes will feature three bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms, attached garages and open-concept living spaces before being sold to owner-occupants.
The projects are supported in part by American Rescue Plan funding from the city of Youngstown, while the building sites were assembled through the Mahoning County Land Bank. Beniston says dozens of homes are currently under construction across the city through partnerships aimed at increasing homeownership and neighborhood investment.
Douglas says the new homes represent more than new construction. She believes bringing new residents into Lincoln Knolls creates new energy, strengthens the community and encourages additional investment in infrastructure, including sidewalks, streets and public spaces.
Both say continued investment in housing helps improve property values, attracts additional families to the neighborhood and supports long-term revitalization efforts throughout the city’s East Side.