Planners will study urban-renewal ideas

The commission could consider the plans as early as next month.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The planning commission once again opted to take no action on proposals to turn two sections of the city into urban-renewal areas.
The commission voted to table the motions Tuesday so city officials could meet with those who designed plans for the Wick District-Smoky Hollow and Lincoln-Rayen-Wood development districts.
The plans could be in front of the commission as early as its next meeting, Feb. 21, depending on how discussions progress, said William D'Avignon, the city's deputy director of planning.
D'Avignon said the urban-renewal proposals are significant steps that would allow the projects to be eligible for state and federal funding, and for the city to seize certain properties, if necessary, under eminent domain. That is why the process must be done carefully and properly, he added.
The last time the city approved an urban renewal area was in 1996 on the west end of downtown, D'Avignon said. That eventually led to the reopening of Federal Plaza and the demolition of the Masters complex, he said.
Earlier postponement
The planning commission postponed a vote on the plans for the two areas at its Dec. 20 meeting at the request of then-Mayor George M. Mc-Kelvey. McKelvey said the documents developed for the two areas were too large and complex for commission members to make a decision the same day it received the proposals.
The plans detail what locations and structures in the two areas are considered to have blight and if those areas need remediation such as renovation or demolition.
D'Avignon said city officials -- including himself, Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello and Carmen Conglose Jr., the deputy director of public works -- need to meet with the plans' developers to discuss the methodology used to decide what areas are considered to have blight, among other issues.
About 20 people showed up at the commission meeting only to learn that the group was postponing action again on the two proposals.
Disagreement
The postponement didn't set too well with some commission members.
"We can't keep jacking these people around month after month," said Angelo Pignatelli, a commission member. "It shouldn't be on the agenda if we have questions. Take it off the agenda until we have the sit-down and get this resolved."
The commission can recommend approval of the plans, but it is city council that ultimately decides if the proposals are acceptable, D'Avignon said.
The Wick District-Smoky Hollow plan calls for a proposed $250 million redevelopment plan of the 66-acre site bounded by Wick, Andrews, Rayen and Madison avenues. Council approved a major rezoning change for the area in November.
The Lincoln-Rayen-Wood plan proposes improvements to 38 acres bounded roughly by Lincoln, Fifth and Wick avenues and Commerce Street. This plan is part of Youngstown State University's Centennial Master Plan that calls for development in that area including a new College of Business Administration.
skolnick@vindy.com