Agency sends out requests for developers' proposals

The deadline to respond is Feb. 3, 2006.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Wick Neighbors Inc. is sending out more than 50 requests for proposals today to developers to carry out the Wick District-Smoky Hollow area development plan.
The requests were sent to developers nationwide, with a focus on Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, with experience in mixed-use urban development projects, said Margaret Murphy, Wick Neighbors' executive director.
Wick Neighbors, the nonprofit agency in charge of the proposed $250 million project, also plans to advertise in newspapers and business publications in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
"We're looking for highly qualified developers experienced in mixed-use developments who have the skills and ability to develop this area," Murphy said.
Deadline
The deadline to respond to the request for proposals is Feb. 3, 2006.
A meeting for prospective developers will be at 3 p.m. next Tuesday at Wick Neighbors office at 240 N. Champion St. in Youngstown. Also, a pre-submission meeting for developers planning to respond to the request for proposals will be at 3 p.m. Jan. 18, 2006, at the Wick Neighbors office.
The agency's goal is to break ground on the project sometime next year, Murphy said.
The requests ask developers to provide their experience in similar developments, financial capacity, principals of their proposed development team, local participation, marketing and conceptual renderings.
Zoning change
Youngstown City Council approved a major rezoning change on Nov. 2 for the 66-acre area bounded by Wick, Andrews, Rayen and Madison avenues.
The planned development overlay designation allows Wick Neighbors to rezone the site at once instead of a piecemeal process. The area was previously zoned general residential, industrial limited and institutional.
The development plans for the area include a 3-acre park; more than 500 townhouses, condominiums, single-family homes and apartments; commercial and retail space; senior citizen housing; and office space.
An economic impact analysis of the plan, done by the Patco Group of Cleveland for Wick Neighbors, shows the development has the potential of generating $1.45 million in annual property taxes. The area currently generates $31,000 annually in property taxes.
skolnick@vindy.com