Warren has a good blueprint for downtown revitalization

When all the stakeholders are invited to participate, the chances of success are greatly improved -- which explains Warren Mayor Michael O'Brien's enthusiastic comment at the unveiling of the plan to revitalize the downtown area: "Today we celebrate a milestone." O'Brien wasn't exaggerating.
With officials from city government and the city school system, downtown merchants and residents involved in the year-long development of the blueprint, the disagreements that usually accompany such endeavors will be kept to a minimum, which is a good thing. Taking on an assignment of this magnitude will require total commitment from all segments of the community.
As O'Brien put it, "Never before in the history of this city have citizens played such a vital role in determining our city's future." He noted that over 70 volunteers "have joined with passion and dedication to provide us with the first downtown comprehensive plan."
"Warren G.R.O.W.s" -- Grassroots Revitalization of Warren -- was developed by four committees which defined 20 goals and then outlined 65 strategies for achieving them. Strengthening the downtown is the first goal. Others include: preserving the distinctive character of the historic architecture within the downtown area; promoting mixed-income housing in and near the downtown business district; securing a Main Street community designation under the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and establishing a Victorian holiday village theme on Courthouse Square.
Tax incentives
To help new businesses locate downtown, the plan envisions loans, tax incentives and other programs. In addition, a business assessment resource team will be put together to help downtown businesses, create a business development workshop series and possibly establish a business incubator.
Michael Maggiano, the Warren Redevelopment and Planning Corp.'s project manager, had it right when he said, "The work is just beginning. We did the easy part. Now we've got to make it happen." WRAP coordinated the development of the revitalization plan.
And Anthony Iannucci, WRAP's director, put his finger on the underlying reality of such an endeavor when he said, "It's a long-term private-public partnership."
But in the end, credit for the success in developing the downtown redevelopment blueprint must go to Mayor O'Brien, who was in office just a month last year when he announced that Warren would have a planning document similar to what the city of Youngstown produced with its "Youngstown 2010."
Indeed, the mayor met with Hunter Morrison, director of Youngstown State University's Center for Urban and Regional Studies and one of the main architects of Youngstown's plan, to explore the approach to be taken.
The decision was made after O'Brien witnessed the unveiling of "Youngstown 2010 -- Sharing a vision for a better tomorrow" at Stambaugh Auditorium attended by 1,300 area residents. He observed that the two cities have relatively the same issues that must be addressed. Hence, his reaching out to Morrison and others.
Youngstown's new mayor, Jay Williams, shares O'Brien's belief that cooperation between the two cities is a necessity in accomplishing their missions.