Neighborhoods

The township’s first regular meeting of the board of trustees after last week’s election moved along quickly and covered a lot of ground, quite literally.

Four of the nine resolutions passed Monday evening dealt with property management and land transfers.

Beth Duzzny, manager of the Boardman Township Land Bank, discussed parcels that will either be remediated as nuisances by the township, maintained for flood mitigation or developed for residential purposes.

Trustees approved a resolution transferring three lots — 67, 68 and 69 — in Larchmont Park Plat, in Applewood Acres, to Boardman from the Mahoning County Land Bank.

The resolution states that they will “remain as open space as they are located within the Zone B Flood Zone.” Township Administrator Jason Loree said Zone B is just the area right outside the primary flood mitigation focus area. The township wants to acquire and hold parcels in those areas because they would hold little or no value for sale as residential properties because of the high risk of flooding.

Duzzny said the lots have been held in the hopes of a neighbor purchasing them to maintain the neighborhood.

“Which is kind of the goal of a lot of our land bank properties. Usually, they’re houses condemned or demolished and taken down to the vacant land, then they’re sold to the neighbors,” she said.

She said prospective buyers must be a direct neighbor abutting the property.

“If somebody else comes in and buys the property then they just own the property and they’re not looking at it every day and maintaining it to the best of its potential,” she said. Neighbors will usually end up making the lot part of their own property and beautifying it.

These lots, however, will be maintained for a different purpose.

“These never sold, and in looking at some of the flooding issues, it was determined it would be best to have those for a possible ABC (Stormwater District) project or maintenance of drainage issues to help the neighborhoods,” Duzzny said.

Two other resolutions transferred property from Boardman to the Mahoning County Land Bank. Trustee Larry Moliterno abstained from that vote because he is the treasurer for the county land bank. Trustees Steve Yacovone and Tom Costello approved the motions.

They transferred four parcels in the Newport and Brownlee Woods neighborhoods and the “easterly 75 feet of lot 26” in Meadowbrook Plat — along Meadowbrook Avenue — for the purpose of new home construction.

Duzzny said Marilyn Kenner of ABC and Ian Beniston, executive director of Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, have some tentative plans for the lots, although no formal proposals have been presented yet.

To read the full article from The Vindicator, click here.

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

The City of Youngstown has awarded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds to YNDC for multiple housing and neighborhood improvement projects:

HOME51 New Construction - $361,179.70
HOME51 Strategic Acquisition and Rehabilitation - $63,737.60
CDBG51 Roof Replacement  - $175,000
CDBG51 Essential Repair - $200,000
CDBG50 REVITALIZE - $40,000

Many thanks to the City of Youngstown for the support and partnership!

The Mahoning County Land Bank and YNDC have completed the construction of five more new homes in the City of Youngstown. The new homes are located in the Crandall Park, Upper West Side, and Idora neighborhoods.

These projects build off ongoing work of the City of Youngstown, Mahoning County Land Bank, and YNDC in these neighborhoods that include: neighborhood action planning, demolition, code enforcement, property acquisition, home repair, housing counseling, vacant home rehabilitation, and street tree planting. Additionally, with the support of Community Development Block Grant funding from the City of Youngstown neighborhood improvements were undertaken on new construction blocks. These improvements included replacement of broken sidewalk squares, removal of dead street trees, installation of doorbell cameras for participating residents.

The homes all have three bedrooms, at least two bathrooms, an open concept living, kitchen, and dining area, first floor laundry room, front porch, and two-car garage. Buyers are eligible for $10,000 in down payment assistance from the City of Youngstown's At Home program and up to $18,000 in additional down payment assistance may be available for eligible homebuyers through a partnership with Huntington Bank.

The new home construction is made possible by a grant award to the Mahoning County Land Bank from the Ohio Department of Development’s Welcome Home Ohio grant program. The vacant lots were assembled by the Mahoning County Land Bank. The builder for the project is Joe Koch Construction.

As part of its annual Giving Tuesday and Beyond campaign, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and several community sponsors are committing $64,500 to match donations that support the long-term sustainability of more than 50 local nonprofits.

The highlight of this year’s campaign are the two Power Hours on Giving Tuesday, celebrated Dec. 2, when online donations of at least $10 will be matched 2:1 from 8 to 9 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m. During the rest of the campaign – from Giving Tuesday through Dec. 8 – donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Each eligible agency fund will have donations matched up to $1,400 total.

Funds for the Giving Tuesday and Beyond matching program are provided by the Arnett Family Fund, along with this year’s sponsors, KeyBank, Clearstead Advisors, SSB CPAs and Edward Jones wealth manager Ted Stazak.

“Since the beginning of Giving Tuesday and Beyond, we’ve emphasized the power of small-dollar giving, and last year was no different. We saw more than $50,000 donated to our agency funds, with more than half of the gifts being just $10. We want to thank every philanthropist that makes our community better by donating, regardless of how much,” said Casey Krell, president of the Community Foundation. “We also thank our sponsors for helping to grow Giving Tuesday and Beyond at a time when the work of nonprofits is more important than ever. Our sponsors’ support helps our agency funds build long-term stability so nonprofits can put as much attention on their services as possible.”  

Beginning Dec. 2, donations can be made online HERE or by mailing a check to the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley at 201 E. Commerce St., Suite 150, Youngstown OH 44503, with the agency fund’s name in the memo line.

The eligible nonprofit agency funds housed at the Community Foundation are:

Animal Charity of Ohio Fund.
Angels for Animals Endowment Fund.
Association of Fundraising Professionals Mahoning-Shenango Chapter Fund.
Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley Fund.
Beatitude House Endowment Fund.
Bridgeway to Thriving Funds (Thrive 10:10).
Cadence Care Network Fund (new in 2025).
Community Living Endowment Fund.
Doris Burdman Fund for Mental Health (Compass Family & Community Services).
Easter Seals Building Tomorrows Fund.
Economic Action Group Fund.
Game Changers Leadership and Peer Mentoring Initiative Fund (new in 2025).
Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley Fund.
Inspiring Minds Youngstown Inc. Fund.
Interfaith Home Maintenance Service Fund (Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.).

To read the full article from The Business Journal, click here.

As part of its annual Giving Tuesday & Beyond campaign, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and several community sponsors are committing $64,500 to match donations that support the long-term sustainability of more than 50 local nonprofits.

The highlight of this year’s campaign are the two power hours on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 2, when online donations of at least $10 will be matched 2:1 from 8 to 9 a.m. and noon to 1 p.m.

During the rest of the campaign — from Giving Tuesday through Dec. 8 — donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar. Each eligible agency fund will have donations matched up to $1,400 total.

Funds for the Giving Tuesday & Beyond matching program are provided by the Arnett Family Fund, along with this year’s sponsors, KeyBank, Clearstead Advisors, SSB CPAs and Edward Jones wealth manager Ted Stazak.

“Since the beginning of Giving Tuesday & Beyond, we’ve emphasized the power of small-dollar giving and last year was no different. We saw more than $50,000 donated to our agency funds, with more than half of the gifts being just $10. We want to thank every philanthropist that makes our community better by donating, regardless of how much,” Community Foundation President Casey Krell said. “We also thank our sponsors for helping to grow Giving Tuesday & Beyond at a time when the work of nonprofits is more important than ever. Our sponsors’ support helps our agency funds build long-term stability so nonprofits can put as much attention on their services as possible.”

Beginning Dec. 2, donations can be made online at CFMV.org/agency-funds or by mailing a check to the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley at 201 E. Commerce St. Suite 150, Youngstown, OH 44503 with the agency fund’s name in the memo line.

The eligible nonprofit agency funds housed at the Community Foundation are:

• Animal Charity of Ohio Fund

• Angels for Animals Endowment Fund

• Association of Fundraising Professionals Mahoning-Shenango Chapter Fund

• Autism Society of the Mahoning Valley Fund

• Beatitude House Endowment Fund

• Bridgeway to Thriving Funds (Thrive 10:10)

• Cadence Care Network Fund (new this year)

• Community Living Endowment Fund

• Doris Burdman Fund for Mental Health (COMPASS Family & Community Services)

• Easter Seals Building Tomorrows Fund

• Economic Action Group Fund

• Game Changers Leadership and Peer Mentoring Initiative Fund (new this year)

• Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley Fund

• Inspiring Minds Youngstown Inc. Fund

• Interfaith Home Maintenance Service Fund (Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.)

To read the full article from Tribune Chronicle, click here.

Wednesday, November 12, 2025

The Raymond John Wean Foundation has awarded a $10,000 We See You grant award to YNDC to expand enrollment for Mahoning County residents at the Glenwood Fresh Market. Huge thanks to the foundation for the support!

Thursday, November 13, 2025

YNDC acquired the former Park Inn property on Glenwood Avenue in spring 2025. YNDC has completed the first phase of building stabilization to include: installation of a new roof on the three story section of the building, significant masonry work, new exterior and parking lot lighting.

YNDC has not finalized any specific plans for the landmark property and will be working through development planning in the months to come. 

Monday, November 17, 2025

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley's Mahoning Valley Community Response Fund has awarded a $10,000 grant award to YNDC to expand enrollment for Mahoning County residents at the Glenwood Fresh Market. Huge thanks to the foundation for the support!

Tuesday, November 18, 2025

YNDC worked with Councilman Jimmy Hughes to complete improvements at Mt. Hope Veterans Memorial Park Cemetery located at 1945 Liberty Road, Youngstown, Ohio 44505. Mt. Hope is the final resting place for many veterans, as well as residents of the Sharon Line and East Side.

The partnership allowed for significant progress to be made at the cemetery that has been long neglected. Recent improvements include: dead tree removal, new gates, new road, landscape, and other improvements throughout the property.

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

YNDC, partners, and supporters celebrated the completion of three solar powered duplexes, totaling six units of housing, located at 3013, 3021, and 3031 Glenwood Avenue. Each unit has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open concept living, kitchen, and dining area, in-unit laundry, front porch, and two covered parking spaces.

Each duplex also has an integrated solar array that generates more than 15kwh of power - more power than the buildings use. These are believed to be the first net negative buildings constructed in the City of Youngstown. All units have been leased to tenants.

This project was made possible by grant awards from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Affordable Housing Program, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati Affordable Housing Program, and the Mahoning County Continuum of Care. The construction financing was provided by PNC Bank and WesBanco. Permanent financing was provided by WesBanco. The vacant lots were assembled by the Mahoning County Land Bank. The City of Youngstown has provided funding for neighborhood improvements on the target blocks where the new construction is taking place. The improvements include new sidewalks, dead street tree removal, tree planting, and other improvements. The builder for the project is Joe Koch Construction. The project also received support from the Sixth Ward Councilperson Anita Davis, The Raymond John Wean Foundation, Glenwood Neighbors, and other stakeholders.