City is looking up, expert says

'Things were bleak,' the expert said when he studied Youngstown in 1999.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Seven years ago, Richard C. Harwood, a noted national expert on strengthening communities and improving public life, concluded in a study of the city that its citizens felt "stuck" and Youngstown was a "place in waiting."
"Many people told us that they felt that Youngstown was in a continual decline," he wrote in 1999. "They want to see things improve, but they had very little faith that anything could reverse the trend."
Harwood, head of the Bethesda, Md.-based Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, returns today to Youngstown to talk about the improvements made to the city since 1999.
Harwood is the keynote speaker at the Wick Neighbors Inc.'s annual meeting and dinner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Though this is Harwood's first visit back to Youngstown since 1999, he said Wednesday that he believes the city is turning the corner based on what he's heard and read about the area.
Among the changes is a new mayor, Jay Williams, the first independent candidate to hold the seat in about 80 years and the first black in that position.
Also, Harwood mentioned the city's 2010 comprehensive plan, improvements to the downtown, the city's decision to allocate $1.8 million for the demolition of dilapidated houses, and organizations such as Wick Neighbors, which is promoting a $250 million plan to redevelop the Wick District-Smoky Hollow area.
During his time here in 1999, Harwood said city residents felt there was a lack of hope and trust and there was a strong fear the city would continue to decline.
"Things were bleak," he said. "There was an ingrained sense of negativity in people. It was Youngstown at a low point."
With the improvements in recent years, Harwood said he believes there is hope that the city is on the upswing.
To "instill a sense of real hope in people," it's important for proposed improvements for the city to progress, he said.
But the goals to improve the city must be realistic and be met, or it could mean disaster for Youngstown, Harwood said.
"You don't want to peddle false hope," he said. "You can't exaggerate the successes you have. There's nothing more dangerous to a city like Youngstown than false hope. You have a great opportunity in Youngstown."
Tickets for the event are $25 per person.
Wick Neighbor's proposed redevelopment plan takes in 66 acres bounded by Wick, Andrews, Rayen and Madison avenues.
If fully implemented, the plan would include a three-acre central park; more than 500 townhouses, condominiums, single-family homes and apartments; commercial and retail space; senior citizen housing; and office space.
skolnick@vindy.com