Youngstown council to consider increase in demolition budget

By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Council members will consider legislation Wednesday to increase the city’s demolition budget by $179,219.17.

The additional dollars are from unused federal Community Development Block Grant money and profits the city made on the sale of two houses it rehabilitated under another federal program.

Council members decided at an April 11 community-development agency committee meeting to use at least $129,161 to demolish vacant structures this year.

Members debated whether to use an additional $50,058 in unused CDBG money for either demolition or street resurfacing.

Council had approved a budget March 30 with $775,236 for demolition, and had plans to increase that amount.

In addition to the $179,219.17 increase to be considered Wednesday, the city expects to use $722,246 in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds for demolition this year.

Council members opted to use the $50,058 for demolition and continue looking for resurfacing money, said Councilman DeMaine Kitchen, D-2nd.

“This wasn’t an exhaustive combing of the budget,” he said. “We’re looking to put money back into” street paving.

The city originally was going to spend about $1.1 million on paving, but council members wanted an additional $165,000 for that work. Council and the administration were able to increase the paving budget by $121,000 on March 30.

Also, council will consider legislation Wednesday to transfer $315,966.67 in CDBG money for a new program to provide no- interest loans to those who qualify to purchase some city houses.

The program will be handled by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.

The money was originally intended to help provide finance assistance for low- to moderate-income families wanting to buy new houses.

City officials said that program wasn’t working.

Council also will consider legislation to allow the board of control to solicit proposals to manage the city-owned 20 Federal Place office building on West Federal Street.

The city currently pays $266,460 annually to DeVicchio & Associates to manage the building.

Council members have said in the past that they want to eliminate that contract and have city administration officials manage the facility. But the administration has said city officials don’t have the expertise or staff to so. The DeVicchio contract expires June 1.