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Downtown rebirth group to regroup
BY GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
The organization that played a key role in the rebirth of downtown as an entertainment area soon could be reborn itself.
A meeting to reorganize the Youngstown Arts and Entertainment District Association will be at 7 p.m. May 27 at the Lemon Grove, 122 W. Federal St.
Before it folded, YAEDA met on a regular basis to discuss and plan progress in the center city. It was effective in lobbying for legislation that enabled new businesses to open downtown.
The first YAEDA was led for six years by Dennis Roller. It had at least 60 members, and its monthly meetings featured guest speakers. The association disbanded about two years ago after participation dwindled, Roller said.
Jacob Harver, owner of the Lemon Grove, is spearheading the drive to restart YAEDA.
He is inviting anyone with an interest in downtown to attend the May 27 meeting: artists, activists, business owners, arts/cultural organizations, residents, officials and people who simply care about the city.
Discussion at the May 27 meeting will include YAEDA’s past accomplishments.
But the reorganized group’s goal will remain the same: downtown’s cultural and economic success.
Harver has prepared a new YAEDA outline that identifies four key issues: marketing the area; improving infrastructure and services; helping cultural groups; and assuring locally owned businesses are not squeezed out.
“People should no longer be saying it would be great if downtown came back. It is back! Now we just need to work together to market it on a regional and national basis,” wrote Harver in his outline.
Concerning infrastructure, Harver cited several impediments to progress, including safety and security, public transportation, green spaces and parking.
Harver’s most incisive comments focused on the need for local ownership. He cited several downtown businesses in making his point.
“Youngstown knows more than anywhere else the dangers of [relying upon] large corporations and the global economy,” he wrote.
“That is why we need to make sure we are self-reliant and that we define a strong economy by how well it meets the needs of the individuals that make up our community. By creating a network of local businesses and professionals, we can ensure our mutual success and longevity.
“We also need an organization that will protect against the dangers of our success, such as gentrification and chain stores that hurt our local economy. We want a vibrant economy where Tomasino’s succeeds, not replaced by a Pizza Hut. Or a Lemon Grove replaced by a Starbucks. Or a Rosetta Stone replaced by a Jillians.”