Neighborhoods

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society announced its 2021 Historic Preservation Award winners on Thursday while celebrating National Preservation Month.

The awards honor individuals and organizations that have a strong role in revitalizing and preserving the Valley.

Two projects were recognized with the Community Revitalization Award, the Mahoning County Courthouse and “The Monastery.”

The courthouse exterior was recognized for dedication to original materials and quality of work. It is located on Market Street in Youngstown. The property is owned by the Office of the Mahoning County Commissioners.

The Monastery, at 1810 Volney Road in Youngstown, was recognized for its preservation of historic usage after it was converted into an apartment complex. It is owned by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

Two buildings were honored with the Commercial Revitalization Award, Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) and Iron and String Life Enhancement (ISLE).

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

A former monastery and a county courthouse are among the winners of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society’s 2021 Historic Preservation Awards.

The awards honor outstanding revitalization projects and people who have made an impact on preservation. The winners were announced today.

A special ceremony to acknowledge these winners will take place during MVHS’ annual meeting on June 22. A video presentation will be shown at the meeting for members and guests. It will become accessible to the general public soon after on the MVHS website and its social media platforms.

In the Community Revitalization Award category, The Monastery at 1810 Volney Road and the Mahoning County Courthouse exterior, both in Youngstown, have been selected as winning projects. 

The Monastery, so-called because of its association for decades as a Carmelite monastery and worship center led by Father Richard Madden, is owned by Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. The structure originally belonged to Emery McKelvey and was used as a single-family home. The restored property now echoes its historic usage with three, market-rate apartments and a Neighborhood Action Center for public gatherings.

To see the full story from The Business Journal, click here.

Monday, May 24, 2021

The City of Youngstown is currently seeking feedback on the use of the $82.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding it is receiving.

Please take a few minutes and complete this survey and prioritize important neighborhood investments such as park improvements, housing, corridors, streets, sidewalks, and tree removal and planting. Thank you for completing the survey and helping put our neighborhoods first!

Click here to complete the survey NOW!

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Patricia has lived in her home for ­­over 35 years.

Severe roof leaks were causing damage throughout her home, so YNDC replaced Patricia’s roof to prevent further deterioration. “I didn’t believe it at first...but it was great and I really appreciate it,” she said.

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

On Tuesday, May 25, 2021, the Frances Schermer Charitable Trust awarded a $5,000 grant for emergency repair to YNDC.

The funds will be used for the emergency home repair program to assist residents of owner-occupied, single family homes with emergency repairs such as furnace and plumbing repairs at NO COST. Thank you to the Frances Schermer Charitable Trust!

The Mahoning Valley Historical Society recently announced its 2021 Historic Preservation Award winners for outstanding revitalization projects and people who have made an impact on preservation in the community.

The MVHS Historic Preservation Awards are underwritten by First Place Community Fund, a component of the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. 

In the Community Revitalization Award category, "The Monastery" at 1810 Volney Road and the Mahoning County Courthouse exterior at 120 Market St. are the winning projects.  

"The Monastery," so-called because of its strong association for decades as a Carmelite monastery and worship center, led by Father Richard Madden, is owned by Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

To see the full story from Mahoning Matters, click here.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

On Wednesday, May 19, TCF Bank awarded YNDC a $25,000 grant for YNDC's Free HUD Approved Housing Counseling Program.

As a HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Agency, YNDC offers pre- and post-purchase one-on-one counseling services and online education, to assist low- to moderate-income city residents identify and overcome barriers to homeownership, including inadequate savings, income, credit history, and understanding of the home buying process and prepare them for future homeownership, and to provide existing low- to moderate-income homeowners with resources to maximize their limited incomes and minimize repair costs so that they can avoid foreclosure and improve their living conditions. Many thanks to TCF Bank for their support of this critical free service!

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

On Monday, May 17, 2021 the Finance Fund awarded a $100,000 Economic Development grant to YNDC for the renovation of 2915 Glenwood Avenue.

The funds will be used to renovate the vacant retail plaza into a modern retail facility with multiple units for neighborhood serving businesses. This project is part of ongoing efforts to improve the greater Glenwood Avenue corridor. Big thanks to the Finance Fund for the support!

Revitalization has become somewhat of a buzzword in many Midwestern communities faced with the results of decades of disinvestment and deterioration.

While many associate successful revitalization with flashy commercial developments or the appearance of a coffee shop chain on a previously vacant street corner, revitalization at its core consists of work that doesn’t usually make the evening news but has a deep and lasting impact: first for residents, then the neighborhood, and ultimately the larger community.

In Youngstown, Ohio, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) invests most of its resources in a holistic portfolio of housing programming, which is at the center of its neighborhood revitalization efforts.

To see the full story from Union Home Mortgage Foundation, click here.

When the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. advertises a rehabilitated house on the Multiple Listing Service, the property generally doesn’t stay available for long.

“Hours?” a laughing Tiffany Sokol remarks, partially in jest.

Sokol is YNDC’s housing director. Her comment reflects the heightened activity of the residential real estate market – activity that includes inner-city areas.

“Pretty much as soon as they hit the MLS, we’ve got showings and we’re getting offers,” she says.

Local real estate agents attest that houses that might have languished on the market for weeks, if not months, now get offers within days, if not hours, of becoming available, and are going for significantly more money than the asking price.

David Zamarelli, broker and owner of William Zamarelli Realtors, Howland, says he has never seen the inner-city market as strong as it is now.

To see the full story from The Business Journal, click here.