Turning around Youngstown (Canton, Austintown: to live in, dangerous, store)

[CortlandGirl79]

I think this is a great idea! I've been hoping something like this would happen for a very long time. I know lots of people from the valley that have businesses other places and they are successful. Why not try and build up your hometown, rather than cut and run.

The new ‘Grow Home’ campaign seeks Valley loyalty, recognition - Vindy.com News - Local & Regional News - Youngstown, Warren, Columbiana, Ohio

The goal is to reach YSU alumni entrepreneurs outside the Mahoning Valley who may be contemplating a business start-up or expansion, Ryan said as the program was unveiled at YSU on Thursday.

Youngstown State University - Grow Home

[strojjj]

I grew up in the 60s around Hazelwood and Mahoning avenue area, and went to St Brendan and Chaney, when Mahoning Ave was the thriving thoroughfare. After 38 years, I've returned to the area. I am astonished at how everything has been left to fall into ruin.

As a real estate owner in a community a person has the obligation to keep their property up, regardless if it is a rental, appartment building, business front...

Youngstown and surounding areas need to pass and enforce ordinances requiring the up keep of property to a standard. If a person doesn't have the dignity or finances to upkeep their property, they don't deserve to, and shouldn't own it.

As I drove through the neighborhood, there were homes that were kept neat, tidy, and in excellent repair among the homes that were falling down and unkept. I remember how all of those homes were new, neat, and tidy. It saddened me.

Sometimes social and peer pressure needs to be applied to straighten things out. This is one of those times.

[strojjj]

The duties of a City Council and Mayor of a community, is to guide the city and surounding areas to prosperity.

Okay... the steel industry is gone! Get over it. The US as a whole has moved from the manufacturing stage of development, into the information and technology stage of development.

The City Council and Mayor and other community leaders need to get off their duffs and start enticing technology and information services into Youngstown! Do your frigging jobs!!

Give these business tax breaks, reduced property rates, and other incentives. Everyone benefits from local businesses. Support the current local business in the same manner. Stand up for what already exists or the only businesses prospering will be drug lords and slum lords!

People! Stop waiting for someone else to turn the city around and rebuild for you, as many in New Orleans have done.

Youngstown and community will prosper for it, overall.

[dugdogmaster]

It's very difficult for a city such as Youngstown to do this, when it's sandwiched between two much larger MSA's, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Not to mention, there's not much of a tax base left to draw from now. Plus, as someone mentioned in another Ytown thread, they have been trying to start a green business, and the city keeps turning them down. This person is trying on their own, but they still have to go through the proper channels, and they stated they keep getting the run around from city goverment.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by strojjj

The City Council and Mayor and other community leaders need to get off their duffs and start enticing technology and information services into Youngstown! Do your frigging jobs!!

Give these business tax breaks, reduced property rates, and other incentives.

I think the mayor and council are doing their jobs, as you describe it. This is the link to the office of economic development.
http://www.ytowndevelopment.com/programs/index.php

Originally Posted by dugdogmaster

Plus, as someone mentioned in another Ytown thread, they have been trying to start a green business, and the city keeps turning them down. This person is trying on their own, but they still have to go through the proper channels, and they stated they keep getting the run around from city goverment.

As I understand it, they were successfull in their quest for a zoning change.

I still don't see why it was the city's fault that a neighbor objected to the requested zoning change. (at least, this is what it sounded like to me) In many areas, if a zoning change or variance is requested, even one neighbor can object and stop the whole process.

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by JR_C

As I understand it, they were successfull in their quest for a zoning change.

I still don't see why it was the city's fault that a neighbor objected to the requested zoning change. (at least, this is what it sounded like to me) In many areas, if a zoning change or variance is requested, even one neighbor can object and stop the whole process.

Which is ridiculous The city needs to think of the greater good, not just one neighbor who has the old time thinking and doesn't want change.

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by dugdogmaster

Which is ridiculous The city needs to think of the greater good, not just one neighbor who has the old time thinking and doesn't want change.

What I was saying is I don't think Youngstown was doing anything differently than what many other cities across the U.S. would do if they were in the same position. So, I don't understand why Youngstown gets a bad name for doing what most other cities would probably do.

Several years ago, my mom who lives in Massillon, Ohio got a letter in the mail saying that a neighbor wanted a zoning variance. They were fixing up a house that had been neglected for years. But, part of their renovation plans included an addition that was too close to the street, (by a couple feet) and so required a zoning variance. The letter informed us that if anyone objected, the variance would not be granted.

Also, on This Old House, there was a similar situation, where the homeowners wanted to add a port cochere (sp?) to access their back yard from the street. If I remember correctly, they weren't allowed to make this change.

[Jim T2]

Did you ever move to Kiwatha ?

[JR_C]

Originally Posted by Jim T2

Did you ever move to Kiwatha ?

I'm curious too. But that person hasn't been online since April.

[CortlandGirl79]

It seems like a lot of people come here and ask questions about the Youngstown/Warren area and we never hear from them again. It would be nice if some of them would check and and tell us if they moved here or not and if so why did or didn't they.