Neighborhoods

And the city of East Liverpool is tackling the vacant homes crisis head on through its Blight Remediation and Demolition Project.

The project, a collaboration with several organizations around the state, works to not only tear down dilapidated homes, but to rehab and revitalize these areas.

East Liverpool Mayor Greg Bricker says there hasn't been a newly built house in the city for more than a decade.

"Through the YMDC Housing Survey, they found roughly 450 abandoned homes in the city. So that's what we're seeing here today," he said.

And he says these homes are so far gone, there's no choice but to tear them down.

Since the program started last July, they have worked to raise around $600,000, as demos can cost roughly around $8,000, and they have already torn down 35 vacant homes.

To see the full story from WTOV, click here.

City council plans Wednesday to approve $684,685 in American Rescue Plan-funded projects from the $14 million allocation it gave its members, but administration officials said they won’t authorize the work without first determining whether the expenditures are permissible under federal law.

“We have a lot of reservations,” city Finance Director Kyle Miasek said during a Monday council finance committee meeting. “We’re going to be thorough in reviewing these agreements to make sure how (ARP funds) are being expended.”

City council voted April 6 to give its members control over $14 million of the city’s ARP funding, which is $2 million per member.

For the first time, council will vote Wednesday on projects — four in all — from that $14 million.

The largest amount is $300,000, sponsored by Councilman Julius Oliver, D-1st Ward, for small business assistance grants for the east end of Federal Street, where Youngstown Flea, Penguin City Brewing Co. and D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery operate.

Councilwoman Anita Davis, D-6th Ward, is seeking to spend $160,000 in ARP money to purchase the former McDonald’s at 2525 Market St., which closed December 2017, in order to convert it into a police substation and community center.

The amount doesn’t include any needed improvements to the building.

Councilwoman Basia Adamczak, D-7th Ward, is requesting $130,685 from her ward’s ARP funding for improvement to Lynn Park while Councilwoman Lauren McNally, D-5th Ward, is seeking $94,000 for emergency home repairs and roof replacement project for low-income residents in her ward.

Miasek said he is working with council members on their requests and is urging them to use fiscal agents who have previously had success in handling community development projects for the city, such as the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. YDNC is the fiscal agent for the projects sponsored by Adamczak and McNally.

To see the full story from The Vindicator, click here.

The city of East Liverpool is cleaning up both the neighborhoods and downtown, tackling blighted homes, painting murals and securing grants for revitalization — all to attract more residents and businesses.

“You can live anywhere, why not East Liverpool?” Mayor Greg Bricker asked.

During a recent interview, Bricker highlighted some of the programs in place to improve the city, including some recent legislation approved by council, the continuation of the blight remediation and demolition project, and plans to make the riverfront and downtown a destination.

“The river’s our biggest asset,” he said.

The city already received $60,000 for a downtown revitalization project and Broadway Wharf revitalization.

“The vision is some sort of amphitheater to draw more people down there and make it a more usable space,” Bricker said.

He also said they need to make the area more boat friendly, have more events and added “we’re actually trying to get some pickle ball courts in downtown.”

The downtown already has some features to catch the eye, such as the murals near Giant Eagle and the one being painted on the Broadway overpass with the columns in Fiesta Ware colors and the word East Liverpool in Potter blue. The umbrellas along Dawson Way sponsored by the East Liverpool Calcutta Area Garden Club provide a colorful shady spot where shoppers in the downtown can relax.

To see the full story from Morning Journal, click here.

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Keith is a veteran who has lived in his home for over 22 years.

Severe roof leaks were causing damage throughout his home. By replacing Keith’s roof, YNDC eliminated the leaks and prevented further damage. “My neighbor actually told me about this program, and I managed to go to one of the houses you guys were replacing the roof on and got the number. It helped me out a lot,” Keith said.

A grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is being awarded to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

The program behind the grant stems from the Dodd-Frank All Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which helps agencies that support tenants and homeowners.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded six Housing Counseling Program grants, totaling $184,849, to housing counseling agencies across Ohio.

These funds will help provide critical housing counseling services to individuals and families to assist with property maintenance, financial management, and preparing for affordable homeownership.

“Losing a home to foreclosure or eviction turns a family’s life upside down – no one should be left without a home,” said Brown. “These vital resources for housing counseling will ensure homeowners and renters – especially homeowners and renters of color who have been hardest hit by this pandemic – have the tools and support they need to navigate our nation’s complex housing system.”

To see the full story from Senator Sherrod Brown, click here.

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

On Monday, August 29, the Dominion Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to the Glenwood Fresh Market (Market).

The Market is located in a storefront at YNDC’s plaza at 2915 Glenwood Avenue and provides year-round access to free fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy food items for low-income residents. The Market also provides space for cooking demonstrations, nutrition education, and health screenings. The Market provides free fresh and healthy produce to 2,000 unique members. Thank you to the Dominion Foundation for the support of this community resource!

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

On Friday, September 12, Seven Seventeen Credit Union awarded YNDC with a $2,500 grant for Housing Counseling.

The HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Program empowers low- to moderate-income residents to 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 Seven Seventeen Credit Union for their support!

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

On Tuesday, August 30, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation was awarded a $26,640 Comprehensive Housing Counseling grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The HUD-Approved Housing Counseling Program empowers low- to moderate-income residents to 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.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

1,448 Cubic Yards of Debris Removed

136 New Clients Enrolled in Housing Counseling

67 Owner Occupied Home Limited Repairs

49 Emergency Repairs

REVITALIZE