Bill pushes for funding to raze houses

The bill would provide matching federal funds for housing demolitions.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan would create a program to provide matching funds to certain cities, including Youngstown, for the demolition of condemned or foreclosed residential houses.
The Urban Development Act of 2006 would provide up to $500,000 in federal funds for demolition to cities with a population of more than 40,000 that have experienced a 10 percent decrease in population over the course of the past two U.S. Census reports, Ryan said.
The funds could also be used to remediate demolition sites and rehabilitate those locations into public-use spaces, he said.
Youngstown is the only city in the Mahoning Valley that would qualify for funding under this proposal.
The city set aside $1.27 million for demolition funding this year.
Important help
Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams says if the proposal is enacted into law, it could be a significant step in helping the city address "the enormous and numerous problems that these blighted structures create in our neighborhoods."
The other main sponsor of this legislation is U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee, a 15-term Democrat from Flint, Mich., a struggling Rust Belt city that would qualify for funding under this proposal.
The bill was referred to the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services.
skolnick@vindy.com