Neighborhoods

Construction equipment digging into the earth at the vacant lot at 4212 Helena Ave. marked the start of construction on three new houses there – the latest investment on the street, where Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and its partners have completed or are finishing several renovation projects. 

It’s a welcome sight for Barbara Norris, who has lived all of her 63 years on Helena Avenue in the Handel’s Neighborhood. She has “put so much money into [her] house it’s unreal,” and hopes YNDC’s investment will spur her neighbors to clean up their properties.

Norris also supports YNDC’s efforts to bring new people into the neighborhood, “as long as we get good people in the houses and not riffraff.” She joined civic, business and community leaders for the groundbreaking Thursday morning. To read the full story from The Business Journal, click here. 

For the first time ever, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation is building brand new homes instead of renovating old ones.

Four years ago, backhoes tore down vacant houses on Helena Avenue. Now they’re back again but this time, they’re building new homes in the Handels Neighborhood.

YNDC broke ground on the first of its three new houses Thursday. To see the full story from WKBN, click here. 

Neighborhood revitalization is alive and moving forward in Youngstown. 

A ground-breaking on Helena Avenue marked the start of construction for three new homes by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation Thursday morning. To read the full story from WFMJ, click here. 

Friday, June 14, 2019

On Thursday, June 13, at 4212 Helena Avenue the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) and partners: Helena Ave Neighbors, Handels Neighborhood Association, Mahoning County Land Bank, PNC Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, City of Youngstown, and Greenheart Companies broke ground on the construction of three new single family homes that will be sold to homeowners as part of an overall planned strategy to revitalize Helena Avenue.

Financing for the project is provided by PNC Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. The lots were provided by the Mahoning County Land Bank and the homebuilder is Greenheart Companies.

This project is part of the ongoing implementation of the Handels Neighborhood Action Plan which has included the rehabilitation and demolition of vacant homes, the repair of occupied homes, the assembly of vacant land, improvement of public infrastructure, and other improvements. 

If you are interested in purchasing one of the new homes, please contact the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation at 330.480.0423. 

The DoubleTree by Hilton Downtown Youngstown is among the buildings being recognized by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society for architectural preservation.

The former office and retail building, previously known as the Stambaugh Building, was built in 1907 by Albert Kahn for Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. and four floors were added in 1914. Following the closing of Sheet and Tube, the building saw sporadic use over the years and deteriorated. 

Based on Hilton’s design and construction standards, 47 different room types, from suites to king rooms, were developed. The renovation was also designed to host multiple businesses, including Bistro 1907. Design started in 2015 with construction beginning in August 2016. The DoubleTree officially opened in May 2018. 

Also receiving Historic Preservation Awards are the city of Youngstown’s City Hall Annex, Wick Park Recreation Center, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.’s renovation of a four-unit residential building at 650 Clearmont Drive and the St. Anthony of Padua church bell tower. 

At the City Hall Annex, restoration efforts focused largely on the city’s municipal court space and rehabilitation the building’s exterior. The roof was entirely replaced and windows were reglazed. Built in 1933, the building originally served as a U.S. post office.

The renovation of the Wick Park Recreation Center, built in 1956, was led by Youngstown CityScape and the Rotary Club of Youngstown. Work included a new handicap accessible entrance and restrooms, a comprehensive window replacement, masonry repairs, interior finishes, lighting replacement and new mechanical systems. 

Acquired by YNDC in 2015, 650 Clearmont Drive opened as the community improvement group’s rental. Each of the four apartments has been fully rehabilitated, including installation of energy-efficient replacement windows matching the design of the original wood windows, preservation of existing masonry and restoration of bathroom floor tiles and interior woodwork. To read the full story from the Business Journal, click here. 

Each June, WYTV celebrates Founder’s Day of Caring.

It’s an opportunity for us to join with our parent company, Nexstar, and our sister stations all across the country and participate in a day of volunteering.

For this year’s event, we went to the Greenford Christian Church for its Big Reach program. Their focus is to provide food and clothing, education, community resources and supportive relationships to people in need.

WYTV was instrumental in the actual construction of its 12,000 square-foot facility with a project called “Extreme Makeover: My Home Town” in 2006.

In 2017, WYTV and sister station WKBN worked with the Boys and Girls Club, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. To see the full story from WYTV, click here. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

On Tuesday, June 18, 2019, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society presented the Community Revitalization Award to YNDC for the renovation of 650 Clearmont Drive at its 144th Annual Meeting at the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center.  

650 Clearmont Drive is multi-family residential property located at the corner of Clearmont Drive and Glenwood Avenue, was built in 1928 on land owned by Maria Cinquegrana, the wife of Agostino Cinquegrana- a grocer by trade. The early residents of 650 Clearmont Drive- which historically consisted of 650, 652, 654, and 656 Clearmont Drive included a diverse group of working class people who were first and second generation immigrants.

YNDC acquired the property in late 2014 as part of the Greater Glenwood Avenue corridor revitalization work, as the property had been vacant for almost twenty years and was significantly distressed. The property was stabilized and secured with boards painted to resemble doors and windows. In 2018, YNDC began the full revitalization and by December 2018 it was occupied by tenants for the first time in decades. YNDC attempted to preserve as much of the building’s historic character as possible.

Many thanks to YNDC for honoring our team with the Community Revitalization Award!

Friday, June 21, 2019

On Friday, June 21, The Youngstown Foundation awarded a $50,000 grant to YNDC for additional improvements to the Glenwood Business Center.

The improvements include new windows throughout the building and the creation of third unit that will provide additional move in ready commercial space for rent. This project will complete the renovation of the Glenwood Business Center and is part of ongoing efforts to stabilize and revitalize the Greater Glenwood Avenue Corridor. Many thanks to The Youngstown Foundation for the support! REVITALIZE.

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society recently presented five Historic Preservation Awards for outstanding revitalization projects and the impact to the area during a ceremony at the Tyler History Center.

One award was presented for the renovation and restoration of the Youngstown City Hall Annex. The work was completed by Olsavsky Jaminet Architects Inc. The structure was built in 1933 and has undergone extensive renovations with care given to preserve its classic design.

The restoration and renovation of the Wick Park Recreation Center which was completed by Faniro Architects Inc. also was honored. The center was in need of renovation after 60 years of continuous use with only intermittent repairs and cosmetic improvements.

Other recipients of the recognitions included:

The renovation and restoration of the four-unit apartment building at 650 Clearmount Drive in Youngstown that is owned by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. Frank Rulli of Faniro Architects Inc. completed that work. Built in 1928, the multi-family residential property has undergone full rehabilitation. The four units are now fully occupied. To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here. 

Over the course of its 105-year history, Trinkle Signs and Display has done work for some of the biggest businesses to come out of the Youngstown area.

“We did Arby’s signage nationwide from this little shop. That was probably the most fun because we were shipping stuff all over the country every day,” says owner Bob Page. “Strouss’ department store, we were kind of like a division of that store because we did so much work for them.”

That history will come to an end July 4, Page says, as he closes the shop, 24 Fifth Ave., on his birthday.

“It’s bittersweet. [I’ve been] here a long time [and] worked with my father and I’m kind of sad but happy [to be] doing something else,” Page says. “I’m going to do a little work out of the house; things that are easy and don’t require a bunch of space and my wife and I have gotten into restoring an old lot building and we’re about to start restoring a second one. That’s going to be my part-time retirement job.”

The store was founded in 1915 by Earl Trinkle. Page’s father, Ward Page, joined in the late 1950s and the father and son worked alongside each other for many years.

“He and a partner [Barney Carnes] bought the company. About that time, I’m in high school, [so I was here] helping out and started going to YSU,” Page says. “[I walked] up and down the hill every day and my dad’s partner was the artist, he was getting older, so someone was going to have to take over, so I started working to perfect that skill.”

Among his teachers was Carnes, who started at Trinkle Signs in the 1930s, did sign work not only for Youngstown businesses but lettered buildings and water towers. He also had a small company in southern Ohio consisting of a panel truck that had his equipment, his ladders, brushes, paint and a dark room. He would paint barns for Coca-Cola similar to the work commissioned by Mail Pouch Tobacco.

“He’d paint a barn, take a picture of it, develop the picture in the truck, stick it in the mail to Coca-Cola,” Page says. “When they got it and saw everything done correctly, then they’d put a check in the mail [for him.]”

The skills needed to make signs – not just for businesses, but political campaigns, local institutions like the Youngstown Symphony or YMCA and development groups like Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. – has changed since Page joined the company.

To read the full story from the Business Journal, click here.