Neighborhoods

Thursday, June 13, 2019

On Wednesday, June 12, more than 500 customers attended the first Youngstown Farmers Market of the season at the B&O Station on Mahoning Ave. 

The market, that takes place once per month is open to the public and allows local residents to access fresh, locally grown produce right in their backyard.

The market is an on-going partnership between the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) and Mercy Health – Youngstown. Not only is fresh produce brought to those who may not have access, the market is designed to accept SNAP/EBT payments and with a grant from the Mercy Health Foundation – Mahoning Valley and the United States Department of Agriculture, individuals using SNAP can “double-up” their produce purchase up to $30.

The July market will take place on July 10, 2019 from 4pm to 6pm at the B&O Station located at 530 Mahoning Ave. in Youngstown and will happen the second Wednesday of each month from June through October.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. broke ground to mark construction of three new homes on Helena Avenue in the Handel’s Neighborhood on the South Side.

This marks the first time the YNDC has undertaken new construction in the city. The houses will cost approximately $250,000, but the YNDC expects to sell them for about half that cost.

The Mahoning County Land Bank and PNC Bank partnered with YNDC for the project. To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here. 

There's a new project going on in Youngstown's Handels Neighborhood.

Three new houses are being built.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation broke ground on the first of its three new houses Thursday. To see the full story from WYTV, please click here. 

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!