Population decreases, but housing number increases

Tuesday, August 22, 2006 The area lagged behind the rest of the nation. By DAVID SKOLNICK VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER YOUNGSTOWN — Although population declined in the five-county Mahoning and Shenango valleys by 1.5 percent between April 2000 and July 2005, the number of total housing units in the area during the same time increased by 1.9 percent. That's according to figures released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The bureau released a breakdown of total housing units for each county in the nation for July 2005, and Julys going back to 2000 as well as the count on the April 2000, 10-year comprehensive census report. At the top of the list in the two valleys based on an increase in percentage is Mercer County. That Pennsylvania county experienced a 2.9 percent increase in total housing units over the five-year-plus period. Columbiana County was second with a 2 percent increase followed by Lawrence County with a 1.8 percent increase, Mahoning County with a 1.7 percent increase and Trumbull County with a 1.6 percent increase. During that time, total housing units in Ohio increased by 4.7 percent, Pennsylvania saw a 3.3 percent increase, and the United States had a 7.4 percent increase, census figures show. What expert said Even though the number of housing units in this area increased less than in Ohio, Pennsylvania and the nation, Thomas Finnerty, associate director of Youngstown State University's Center for Urban and Regional Studies, said he was surprised the number increased at all. "If you lose population, you lose the demand for housing," he said. "We don't have people migrating here, and we don't have the jobs to attract people here, so that would lead you to believe we have less housing." Finnerty said there isn't a demand for new housing in the area, and the number of units will probably decrease. The number of housing units didn't change much between July 2004 and July 2005. For example, the number of housing units in Columbiana County increased by only 12 during that time frame. It was less than 300 in the other four counties. In comparison, more than 5,000 housing units were added between July 2004 and July 2005 in Franklin County, in which the state capital Columbus is located, and more than 2,500 in Butler County. The U.S. Census relies on building permits and other construction documents to determine housing units for each county. The Mahoning Valley housing business is cyclical, and right now it is down, said Terry T. Abrams, executive director of the Home Builders/Remodelers Association of Mahoning Valley that represents more than 750 companies in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. "We have more inventory sitting around than usual," he said. "It's a buyers' market. We're a little concerned that there's more inventory than usual. There is anxiety in the industry, but we are optimistic about the future." skolnick@vindy.com