Neighborhoods

Leaders from the Mahoning County Land Bank and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation say the recent celebration of YNDC’s 100th vacant home renovation demonstrates the power of collaboration.

The move-in-ready home at 4202 Rush Blvd. on Youngstown’s south side was a former tax-delinquent vacant property the Land Bank acquired in October of 2018 before turning it over to YNDC to restore.

“This is a great example of why it’s important to stay faithful to a plan,” DEBORA FLORA, Mahoning County Land Bank executive director, said at an April event marking the milestone with city officials and neighbors.

“There’s no one entity, no one source of money that’ll fix everything Youngstown needs. The layering of partnerships is very important to see the end results through and this is a great example of the progress that we can make on neighborhoods when we work together.”

The two organizations have partnered since 2014. The land bank specializes in acquiring vacant, abandoned properties and repurposing them, and YNDC’s services include renovating homes and marketing them to qualified buyers.

The house was listed as a top priority property in YNDC’s five-year Pleasant Grove Neighborhood Action Plan, which aims to “fight blight” in the South Side neighborhood. To read the full story from the Land Bank's website, click here. 

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

On Tuesday, April 30, more than 175 members of the ACTION Housing Task Force met at Martin Luther Lutheran Church.

The task force leadership outlined the community agreement signed by Mark R. King on April 17, 2019 that includes multiple actions he will take to address his properties and their impact on neighborhoods. Provisions of the agreement include: the registration of all properties, the demolition of twelve properties, the repair of five properties, payment plans with city and county government, and routine monitoring meetings with neighborhood leaders. Mr. King has begun to take action on all the items including the demolition of his twelve most blighted properties. A full copy of the agreement and evidence of the actions Mr. King has taken to comply with the agreement can be downloaded below. The Task Force identified and selected Mr. King based on his significant tax delinquency, large holdings of properties (over 150), complaints by Mr. King’s tenants, and his failure to fully comply with a 2008 community agreement.

The Task Force also identified six additional problem property owners that it will ask to sign community agreements. If the owners will not sign the agreements and work with the Task Force, the Task Force will take community and legal action against the property owners. 

Sign ups were taken for members interested in showing support or providing testimony at a committee hearing for House Bill 103 at the statehouse on May 21. House Bill 103 will more effectively regulate land contracts and ensure they are not utilized in a predatory manner. A sub committee was also started to addressed poorly managed group and sober living homes throughout the city.

The ACTION Housing Task Force is a diverse group of Youngstown neighborhood and faith leaders working together to ensure all people in Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley have safe, fair, and quality housing. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11 at 6pm at Martin Luther Lutheran Church.

More than 100 people gathered Tuesday night to see one of the city’s largest landlords held accountable for money he owes the city and to determine which landlord they’d target next.

Though the landlord – Mark R. King, who owned more than 150 properties at the beginning of the year – never showed up to the meeting, the Alliance for Congregational Transformation of Our Neighborhoods and its supporters still celebrated.

On April 17, King signed a “community agreement” with ACTION demanding he fulfill eight conditions to keep the group from further pressuring him. He was scheduled to make a public appearance to accept the agreement, but he did not show. To read the full story from The Vindicator, click here. 

The city of Youngstown is turning up the heat on problem landlords, and one local group is targeting the worst offenders.

The ACTION Housing Task Force has a whole list, in fact, and Tuesday night one of the landlords it looked to take to task didn't show up as he agreed.

Easily 100 people packed into the MLK Lutheran Church in Youngstown - intent on giving landlord Mark King a piece of their mind.
Even without King or his lawyer present at the ACTION Housing Task Force meeting, the complaints and concerns of tenants and other residents hardly fell on deaf ears.

"My children don't live with me because I have no water in my home and a leak that's been going on for about eight months," said Tremain Williams, Sr. "No one has come out to the home to see what's going on...I want my kids back." To read the full story from WFMJ, click here. 

To watch the video from WFMJ, click here. 

The ACTION Housing Task Force is making it clear -- from now on, it will hold landlords accountable for problem properties in the City of Youngstown, even if it means naming names.

Task force members made the commitment Tuesday evening before a crowded room of 175 people who came to hear about the problem landlords.

The first landlord they heard about was Mark King.

"Mr. King is the first landlord that our task force identified as a problem landlord," Frank Elling said.

King owns about 150 houses throughout Youngstown, including some on Volney Road and Republic Avenue. To read the full story and watch the video from WKBN, click here. 

Friday, May 3, 2019

On Thursday, May 2, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) was honored by ACTION at its annual banquet and presented an award for community investment.

Thanks to ACTION for their continued partnership in REVITALIZATION.

Monday, May 6, 2019

On Monday, May 6, the Arnett and Kennedy Family Funds of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley awarded a $12,500 grant to support Clean Up Glenwood Avenue, a program aimed at systematically cleaning up and transforming Glenwood Avenue and its adjacent neighborhoods into a safe, stable community with a vibrant corridor that provides a high quality of life and economic opportunity for residents.

All aspects of the program align with priorities set forth in resident-driven neighborhood plans and include the clean up of  vacant properties, improvement of unmaintained vacant lots, installation of LED lighting at key locations and crossings to improve pedestrian safety, and replacement of broken sidewalks on the streets surrounding Glenwood Community Park, which serves thousands of youth each year. As part of a broader neighborhood revitalization strategy, these improvements have begun to reduce crime and tax delinquency while restoring homeownership, property values, and pedestrian safety. Many thanks to the Arnett and Kennedy Family Funds of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley for their support!

Thursday, May 9, 2019

On Wednesday, May 8, Denise DeBartolo York awarded a $10,000 grant to support Clean Up Glenwood Avenue, a program aimed at systematically cleaning up and transforming Glenwood Avenue and its adjacent neighborhoods into a safe, stable community with a vibrant corridor that provides a high quality of life and economic opportunity for residents.

All aspects of the program align with priorities set forth in resident-driven neighborhood plans and include the cleanup of  vacant properties, improvement of unmaintained vacant lots, installation of LED lighting at key locations and crossings to improve pedestrian safety, and replacement of broken sidewalks on the streets surrounding Glenwood Community Park, which serves thousands of youth each year. As part of a broader neighborhood revitalization strategy, these improvements have begun to reduce crime and tax delinquency while restoring homeownership, property values, and pedestrian safety. Many thanks to Denise DeBartolo York for her support!

Second Baptist Church pastor Todd Johnson of Warren said it is important for people to come together and be part of a courageous community

Johnson, who was the keynote speaker at the 17th annual banquet for ACTION (Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods) held at the Basilica of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, said what makes a courageous community is confirming the dignity of every human being in that community.

“This is what ACTION stands for with equality, fighting against racism and injustice; speaking up for the poor even if it costs you popularity; speaking the truth to power and government officials even if it damages your relationship. These are some of what a courageous community is about,” Johnson said.

He said courageous communities have people who affirm the dignity of every human being.

ACTION recognized institutions and individuals for contributions to the community. The annual Frances Kerpsack Awards were presented to Jeffrey M. Magada, founder and executive director of Flying High; Mike McNair, editor of The Buckeye Review; Ian Beniston, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation; and Sam Covelli, owner and operator of Warren-based Covelli Enterprises. To read the full story from the Tribune Chroncle, click here.