YOUNGSTOWN Survey: Smoky Hollow could become home

A full marketing survey should be done by December.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- A survey that's far from complete offers a tantalizing figure for Youngstown's future.
Eighteen percent of 250 Youngstown State University workers surveyed indicated an interest in living in Smoky Hollow.
"It does indicate strongly there is a latent interest in residing in Smoky Hollow," said Thomas A. Finnerty Jr., associate director of the Center for Urban Studies at YSU.
Finnerty released the figure Wednesday during a meeting of the Wick Neighbors, a group of churches, museums and agencies along Wick Avenue that want to redevelop Smoky Hollow.
The area is east of the buildings on the east side of Wick Avenue and is bordered by the Madison Avenue Expressway, Rayen Avenue and Andrews Avenue. Much of the land is owned by YSU and is used for parking.
The initial results are part of a marketing study Finnerty is conducting of 2,500 people. He's doing a similar study for plans to redevelop the area around Wick Park on the North Side.
The Wick group envisions about 400 homes in Smoky Hollow, with parks and services designed to appeal to people who want to live in an urban setting.
Others included
Finnerty said he has sent the same Wick survey to 1,000 YSU alumni who are nearing retirement. Those people may be empty-nesters looking to relocate near cultural and intellectual institutions.
An additional 200 surveys were given to St. Elizabeth Health Center and to the city of Youngstown for distribution to their respective employees. Others will be given to Forum Health for similar distribution.
The questionnaire asks if people are interested, might be interested some day, or aren't interested and probably won't be interested in living in Smoky Hollow.
Finnerty noted that there were a number of YSU employees who aren't interested. Their part in the survey ended there.
But 10 percent of the YSU workers indicated they were interested, and 8 percent said they might be interested, he said.
People who have any interest answer detailed questions about the size, type and cost of housing, even down to whether they would want built-in appliances and high-speed Internet access.
Finnerty is expected to complete his study by the end of December. He's to give a report to the Wick Neighbors in January.
What's planned
Members of the Wick Neighbors spent much of their meeting presenting ideas about what they want to see in Smoky Hollow. Ideas range from a farmers market to landscaping to cooperative parking.
City Architecture of Cleveland has been hired by Wick Neighbors to compile the ideas into a workable plan by early 2003.
"If there is a will, the dollars will come," said Paul J. Volpe, president of City Architecture.
The catch, Volpe added, is that the projects won't work if they aren't economically viable.
Artis Gillam Sr., D-1st, whose ward includes Smoky Hollow and YSU, said he is from Smoky Hollow. The councilman told Wick Neighbors he has talked to his fellow lawmakers and they are on board with the project.
Hunter Morrison, Cleveland's former city planner, is working with YSU, the city and the Wick Neighbors. YSU and the city are also updating their plans. Morrison said those plans will be coordinated.
Part of the Wick Neighbors plan calls for areas that will allow the flow of students to Smoky Hollow and Wick Neighbors to the campus.
Morrison said that's important because studies show most students decide they will attend a college after 10 minutes around the campus.
wilkinson@vindy.com