Fed money recommended for Wick District-Smoky Hollow area

YOUNGSTOWN —The long-awaited redevelopment of the Wick District-Smoky Hollow area is going to have to wait a little longer, but officials with the organization spearheading the effort say progress is being made.

About $5 million is needed for the first phase of the $100 million neighborhood with housing and retail businesses.

That would include about 55 townhouses and single-family houses as well as infrastructure, said Margaret Murphy, executive director of Wick Neighbors Inc., which is organizing the redevelopment effort.

To date, the organization has raised close to $2 million, almost all of it through private donations, said Mike Garvey, chairman of the Wick Neighbors board and president of M7 Technologies.

M7 Technologies uses laser-scanning equipment that produces computer images of indoor and outdoor spaces.

Wick Neighbors also received $400,000 from the state’s capital bill for the development of a central park for the area.

The U.S. House and Senate Appropriation committees have recommended $700,000 for the organization for infrastructure improvements. The full House and Senate have to act on the recommendations.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.