Bill allows transfer of YSU land

The measure would help develop the Smoky Hollow neighborhood.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Youngstown State University would be allowed to transfer land for redevelopment adjacent to the campus under a bill the Ohio Senate approved Tuesday.
Senators approved the measure 32-0. The bill must return to the House for final consideration.
Under the bill's provisions, YSU would be able to transfer parcels currently owned or acquired in the future for the redevelopment project, dubbed Smoky Hollow, to a developer or developers without needing separate state legislation with each transfer.
Wick Neighbors Inc., a community development corporation, in partnership with the university, is spearheading the initiative.
Collaborative development
"We think we have a great neighborhood development initiative in the core city," said YSU President David Sweet.
"Even more importantly, it would serve as a model of collaboration between institutions in the community and the neighborhood. We feel that, in terms of neighborhood development, it would be a major step forward as Youngstown seeks to revitalize," Sweet said.
The university says about 434 parcels are within the proposed development's boundaries. The university owns a little more than 200 of those parcels, university officials say.
Backers say the project involves about 500 housing units, 40,000 square feet of retail and 175,000 square feet of commercial, high-tech and light industrial space as well as about 10 acres of parks.
Margaret Murphy, Wick Neighbors' executive director, said the group has completed redevelopment steps and that developers are interested.
Wick Neighbors has issued a request for proposals seeking developers.
Sweet said it will take years for the proposed redevelopment to be fully realized.
Gypsy Lane
The YSU-Smoky Hollow provisions were added to a bill that would re-transfer less than an acre from the state to Liberty Township in Trumbull County but near Youngstown so the township can use the land for economic development.
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles, D-65, would re-transfer the .067-acres on Gypsy Lane from the state to the township.
When the land was originally transferred in the 1970s, it had deed restrictions, state officials said. State officials are trying to reconvey the land to remove any deed restrictions so Liberty has the flexibility if the occasion arises for economic development. The House originally approved the measure earlier this year.