Some Pittsburgh neighborhoods could provide model for Youngstown rejuvenation

EDITOR:
After living in Pittsburgh for six years I have come to appreciate what all Pittsburghers say they love about the city - the numerous and distinct neighborhoods. Many of these neighborhoods have what's called "Neighborhood Business Districts" (NBDs), which range in size from a few to several blocks and contain ethnic restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, grocery stores, art galleries, etc. As is happening nationally, new housing is developing in these neighborhoods to attract a diverse population who have an interest in belonging to a community.
What I've just described sounds like the proposed Smokey Hollow neighborhood. Let's hope this happens. But while Youngstown has some interesting neighborhoods, other than the Smokey Hollow proposal, NBDs need to be developed. If Youngstown is going to come back not only do we need an exciting downtown but we also need dynamic neighborhoods. Young professionals will not move to neighborhoods if they are not vibrant. With a new mayor and seemingly a new energy, this is the perfect time for Youngstown to spur neighborhood development by creating NBDs.
There are two neighborhoods that I'm familiar with that have NBD potential. First, the Wick Park neighborhood on the North Side has enormous potential. There is no sound reason why coffee shops and small restaurants don't already exist in this highly dense neighborhood because a customer base already exists of students and other neighborhood residents. Stambaugh Auditorium and Wick Park add a wonderful ambiance to the neighborhood. Yes, the area is eclectic and there are tough spots, but the "Southside" in Pittsburgh is the same type of neighborhood and it's flourishing. There is ample space on Elm Street between Park and Madison for growth, which would complement businesses already. The city needs to spur small business development in this area via economic incentives and to clean up the blight on the side streets, which in turn will weed out undesirables.
Secondly, it appears that the city and YSU are going to develop the area between the university and the downtown. In my opinion, besides the new business school that YSU proposes, the city needs to make a concentrated effort to build a mix of housing for young professionals, students, and artists within this three-block area. Housing that presently exists in the area is an eyesore and needs to be torn down.
Developing an "arts district" would create a new sense of vitality never seen before in the downtown area and would become a neighborhood where people would want to live and visit. An example of this in Pittsburgh would be the neighborhood of Lawrenceville, which was a dilapidated and drug infested area for many years. But over the last number of years, as artists and business entrepreneurs moved into the area with city help, the neighborhood has shown stunning growth and has cleaned itself up. Now it's a hip and vibrant area and new housing is rapidly developing.
The Youngstown area is crying for urban sophistication -- for sidewalk cafes, unique shops, and a restaurant row. This is the opportunity to start creating this sophistication not only downtown but in the neighborhoods as well.
NICHOLAS DuBOS
Pittsburgh