2008 Woodie Awards
Fight the blight: 2010 plan gradually links downtown to campus
Sarah Sole, News Editor
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
When Hunter Morrison came to Youngstown in 2002, he wondered what he was doing here.
Rust was prevalent on a blue bridge on U.S. Route 422 and on a guard rail on Fifth Avenue by the Youngstown State University football stadium. Bricks were popping out of pavement. Trees were growing from buildings' basements.
Now, however, Morrison said the severe blight is gone.
Now the director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Morrison said he thinks the Youngstown 2010 plan is moving along well.
"I think it's a work in progress," Morrison said, adding that the city still has a long way to go.
"You know it's moving in the right direction," he said.
The city has taken a significant step toward its goal of linking downtown Youngstown with YSU.
Those involved with the Youngstown 2010 plan view the location of YSU's new business college on Wood Street as a way to successfully link downtown with campus. Extending Hazel Street two blocks to Lincoln Avenue would be another way to draw university life to the edge of downtown.
"Youngstown was in many ways flat on its back for 25 years," Morrison said. But five years ago, the city made an aggressive and inclusive plan to redevelop.
The 2010 plan began in 1999 with City Council allocating funding for the process, said Bill D'Avignon, deputy director for Youngstown's planning department.
While some things have already been accomplished, such as the opening of Federal Plaza, some students hope the 2010 plan can better incorporate downtown into campus.
Senior Dave Spatholt, president of the Student Government Association, said he wants Youngstown to expand green space downtown and on campus. He also said he would like to see more lighting between the campus and downtown. An SGA survey in Fall 2006 showed that many students don't go downtown because of the lack of lighting, he said.
The results showed students also asked for a movie theater downtown, Spatholt said.
Junior Alison Kukla, member of SGA's University Affairs Committee, said it seems many students go downtown. Growing up, she said she assumed there was nothing to do in Youngstown. Now, however, she and her friends regularly go downtown for the nightlife.
While Barley's, Cedars and summer events provide social outlets for students, Kukla said they could also benefit from more entertainment venues.
Students would also benefit from a convenience store, since they have to drive to Boardman or Austintown to get to one, she said.
Students getting involved
Students also have had the opportunity to get involved with Youngstown development.
Erianne Raib, vice president of University Affairs at SGA, said that students recently had a meeting with Jay Williams about Youngstown's growth.
"He's very excited by the fact that students want to become involved," Raib said.
Kukla is volunteering for the Wick Park Project, a 2010 project that includes revitalizing the park by repairing walkways, planting flowers and building a playground.
Kukla is also involved in Defend Youngstown, a group of young professionals supporting the city's re-growth.
Raib also sees Defend Youngstown as a positive movement for young people.
"I see the youth really wanting and trying to help out and step up to improving downtown," Raib said.
Raib said improved communication to students, such as pamphlets could help educate students about the 2010 plan.
Though she will probably move away once she graduates, Kukla would like to see Youngstown grow back.
"We're the next generation," she said.
Kukla, who transferred to YSU after two years at Bowling Green State University, said Youngstown has improved in the two years she was out of town.
"Two years seems like a small amount of time," she said, adding that the 2010 plan can accomplish their remaining goals and perhaps more with the two years they have left in the plan.
YSU president David Sweet said the city has made significant progress with the 2010 plan.
"You can see evidence of Youngstown being cleaner and greener," Sweet said.
Downtown, however, still has blight that needs to be cleaned up.
"When you lose half of your population, you leave a lot of houses behind," Morrison said.
Sweet said vacant parcels north of the expressway between Fifth Avenue and Elm Street need to be cleaned up. Additional student housing or other residential housing could go there, he said.
Finding state and federal support
The 2010 plan has also helped developers give more attention to YSU.
About three or four developers are interested in student resident housing downtown, Sweet said.
YSU is working with the city and the state department of transportation on improving roads and campus corridors and building new bridges, Sweet said.
The city plans to make Wick and Fifth avenues safer for pedestrian traffic by widening sidewalks and installing green median strips, Sweet said. Congressman Tim Ryan has also been working to get funding from transportation at the federal level.
Ryan acquired $1.9 million for the city to use with YSU for improving campus corridors such as Fifth, Rayen and Wood avenues, Sweet said. City officials are in the process of deciding how to move forward with the improvements.
Ted Strickland also called for a bond issue. The Main Street Initiative would give $400 million for improvement of urban downtown areas in Ohio, Sweet said.
The 2010 plan would hopefully help Youngstown receive part of the funds.
"I think it would be a major consideration that the state would give," Sweet said, of the 2010 plan.
Additional reporting by Aaron Workman.
Rust was prevalent on a blue bridge on U.S. Route 422 and on a guard rail on Fifth Avenue by the Youngstown State University football stadium. Bricks were popping out of pavement. Trees were growing from buildings' basements.
Now, however, Morrison said the severe blight is gone.
Now the director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies, Morrison said he thinks the Youngstown 2010 plan is moving along well.
"I think it's a work in progress," Morrison said, adding that the city still has a long way to go.
"You know it's moving in the right direction," he said.
The city has taken a significant step toward its goal of linking downtown Youngstown with YSU.
Those involved with the Youngstown 2010 plan view the location of YSU's new business college on Wood Street as a way to successfully link downtown with campus. Extending Hazel Street two blocks to Lincoln Avenue would be another way to draw university life to the edge of downtown.
"Youngstown was in many ways flat on its back for 25 years," Morrison said. But five years ago, the city made an aggressive and inclusive plan to redevelop.
The 2010 plan began in 1999 with City Council allocating funding for the process, said Bill D'Avignon, deputy director for Youngstown's planning department.
While some things have already been accomplished, such as the opening of Federal Plaza, some students hope the 2010 plan can better incorporate downtown into campus.
Senior Dave Spatholt, president of the Student Government Association, said he wants Youngstown to expand green space downtown and on campus. He also said he would like to see more lighting between the campus and downtown. An SGA survey in Fall 2006 showed that many students don't go downtown because of the lack of lighting, he said.
The results showed students also asked for a movie theater downtown, Spatholt said.
Junior Alison Kukla, member of SGA's University Affairs Committee, said it seems many students go downtown. Growing up, she said she assumed there was nothing to do in Youngstown. Now, however, she and her friends regularly go downtown for the nightlife.
While Barley's, Cedars and summer events provide social outlets for students, Kukla said they could also benefit from more entertainment venues.
Students would also benefit from a convenience store, since they have to drive to Boardman or Austintown to get to one, she said.
Students getting involved
Students also have had the opportunity to get involved with Youngstown development.
Erianne Raib, vice president of University Affairs at SGA, said that students recently had a meeting with Jay Williams about Youngstown's growth.
"He's very excited by the fact that students want to become involved," Raib said.
Kukla is volunteering for the Wick Park Project, a 2010 project that includes revitalizing the park by repairing walkways, planting flowers and building a playground.
Kukla is also involved in Defend Youngstown, a group of young professionals supporting the city's re-growth.
Raib also sees Defend Youngstown as a positive movement for young people.
"I see the youth really wanting and trying to help out and step up to improving downtown," Raib said.
Raib said improved communication to students, such as pamphlets could help educate students about the 2010 plan.
Though she will probably move away once she graduates, Kukla would like to see Youngstown grow back.
"We're the next generation," she said.
Kukla, who transferred to YSU after two years at Bowling Green State University, said Youngstown has improved in the two years she was out of town.
"Two years seems like a small amount of time," she said, adding that the 2010 plan can accomplish their remaining goals and perhaps more with the two years they have left in the plan.
YSU president David Sweet said the city has made significant progress with the 2010 plan.
"You can see evidence of Youngstown being cleaner and greener," Sweet said.
Downtown, however, still has blight that needs to be cleaned up.
"When you lose half of your population, you leave a lot of houses behind," Morrison said.
Sweet said vacant parcels north of the expressway between Fifth Avenue and Elm Street need to be cleaned up. Additional student housing or other residential housing could go there, he said.
Finding state and federal support
The 2010 plan has also helped developers give more attention to YSU.
About three or four developers are interested in student resident housing downtown, Sweet said.
YSU is working with the city and the state department of transportation on improving roads and campus corridors and building new bridges, Sweet said.
The city plans to make Wick and Fifth avenues safer for pedestrian traffic by widening sidewalks and installing green median strips, Sweet said. Congressman Tim Ryan has also been working to get funding from transportation at the federal level.
Ryan acquired $1.9 million for the city to use with YSU for improving campus corridors such as Fifth, Rayen and Wood avenues, Sweet said. City officials are in the process of deciding how to move forward with the improvements.
Ted Strickland also called for a bond issue. The Main Street Initiative would give $400 million for improvement of urban downtown areas in Ohio, Sweet said.
The 2010 plan would hopefully help Youngstown receive part of the funds.
"I think it would be a major consideration that the state would give," Sweet said, of the 2010 plan.
Additional reporting by Aaron Workman.
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