EAG highlights property inventory, future plans

Staff report

youngstown

Future developments for Youngstown’s downtown are underway, including renovations of landscapes, roads and property.

Such developments were discussed at the 10th Economic Action Group meeting Tuesday at the Youngstown Business Incubator.

Youngstown CityScape, a nonprofit downtown beautification and preservation organization, cited future projects such as updating “Welcome to Youngstown” signs along with upgrades to Wick Avenue.

The nonprofit’s projects are all about the details, said Sharon Letson, executive director of CityScape.

Additionally, Eastern Gateway Community College’s downtown campus continues to grow and expand, said Dante Zambrini, the college’s interim vice president for the Mahoning Valley.

Furthermore, YBI is progressing to purchase the original Vindicator building, said Barb Ewing, the chief operating officer. The business incubator secured $5 million from local and federal governments to renovate the building for its incubator graduates and applied for a loan for purchase, she said.

On the other hand, future property developments were uncertain for James Sutman, the founder of the Purple Cat, an organization offering day-program alternatives for adults. Sutman, however, noted the recent opening of Gallagher’s Lunch Bucket at the Oak-hill Renaissance Place.

The NYO Property Group, a real-estate development group, highlighted past and current projects to its respective properties.

“We just don’t want these buildings to fall in the wrong hands,” said Dominic J. Marchionda, NYO chief executive officer.

Marchionda said there were some challenges such as finding a strong tenant for the former PNC Bank building, 16 Wick Ave., downtown.