Warren launches citywide study

By Tim Yovich

One key issue in the strategic plan is addressing a declining population.

WARREN — The city has kicked off its plan to put together a comprehensive revitalization strategy to improve the community during the next 20 years.

“Tonight, we look at the face of the future,” Mayor Michael J. O’Brien told about 200 residents during a public meeting Monday at the Lincoln K-8 School on Atlantic Street.

This will be the first citywide comprehensive plan in 47 years, the mayor pointed out.

The plan that will take about a year to complete “will touch every fabric of our community,” O’Brien said. “It will not be put on the shelf. It’s not an academic exercise.”

The plan will be the blueprint to revitalize the downtown and neighborhoods and needs public input to determine the city’s strengths and weaknesses, the mayor added.

Charlene K. Kerr Piper, a principal owner of Poggemeyer Design Group that has been hired by the city to assemble the strategy, said the city has many assets it can draw upon as the basis for attracting growth.

A key issue will be the loss of population, from a high of 63,000 in 1970 to 46,000 in 2005.

“The goal is not to say we’re going to be small forever,” Piper said, calling attention to a population shift from the South where living costs are high to the Midwest and New England.

The plan, she said, will address downtown revitalization, neighborhoods, corridors, brownfield development and job training. She will draw on seven neighborhood groups to help in the effort.

“We have to change the entire image of the city,” Piper said, adding that those outside the city need to know “that this is a great place to live.”

The mayor said the effort will capitalize on the city’s strengths, such as its education system with new buildings; and connecting the parks, bike paths and amphitheater.

One of the negatives, Piper commented, was the large number of residential rental properties. This, she explained, must be turned around.

“It’s overwhelming what we need to do. Talk to us. Tell us what your issues are,” she told the group.

Piper explained that the effort will begin with interviews with city residents, to be followed by a survey mailed to homes.

Piper said that implementing the plan will take money and the city will rely on government grants and loan. She did not mention any tax increase.

The plan is needed, Pipe said, because government agencies don’t provide money unless a community has a comprehensive plan.

During the meeting, residents were able to indicate on boards what they believe are the key issues, weaknesses and strengths.

The key issues they selected were economic development, a good education system and safety. Weaknesses included the city’s image, boarded-up houses and vacant commercial buildings. Its assets are its amphitheater, downtown events, historic sites and Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

The majority of those in attendance were older residents.

Councilman Andrew Barkley, D-3rd, said he recognizes the need to get younger people involved in the process.

Barkley, 40, said there is a plan to reach out to younger people to form the plan, so that generation will be attracted to the city.

yovich@vindy.com