Mayor: Downtown includes more than just the central business district

YOUNGSTOWN — When people think of the city’s downtown area they shouldn’t just focus on the central business district, said Mayor John A. McNally.

Downtown also includes Youngstown State University, Wick Park, Mill Creek MetroParks and the St. Elizabeth Health Center.

“It’s an entire large area and we need to change the perspective of people as to what we are,” McNally said today.

By growing the area, the major partners in the expanded location can work together easier for the betterment of the city without being concerned with arbitrary boundaries, he said.

McNally served today as the moderator of a group of city business and education leaders discussing how to expand the downtown area and work as a cohesive unit.

One issue mentioned by a number of the panelists is the look of the city.

“The biggest complaint I hear is how filthy downtown is,” said Jim Cossler, chief executive officer for the Youngstown Business Incubator.

The discussion was part of a conference today and Tuesday at the Covelli Centre’s community room on “articulating a vision for partnerships,” sponsored by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a public policy think tank.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com