Youngstown finalizes pact with YARS to demo 12 structures on South Side

YOUNGSTOWN — The city finalized an agreement today to have Youngstown Air Reserve Station reservists demolish 12 structures around Taft Elementary School on the South Side.

Both sides said they want this to be the beginning of a long-term cooperative effort.

“We’d like to be able to expand this program in the city,” said Mayor John A. McNally.

“Our citizen airmen will receive real-world training they require to do their jobs anywhere in the world right here in our own backyard,” said Col. James Dignan, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing at the reserve station in Vienna. “And the city is able to have access to Air Force Reserve resources to help them battle blight in Youngstown by demolishing these properties.”

The first vacant house will come down Thursday. The others will be demolished starting next month, Dignan said.

The city is providing the materials, tools, equipment and supervision for the reservists.

The work is being done around the school on Boston and Avondale avenues.

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