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Students review downtown’s market environment
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
A recent study performed by Youngstown State University students shows a misperception exists of downtown Youngstown.
“The reality is a lot better than the perception,” said AJ Sumell, an associate professor at YSU.
Twelve students in Sumell’s Urban and Regional Economics class chose to look at the market environment of the downtown Youngstown area.
The students took different theories they learned in class and applied them to the city.
They surveyed more than 400 students, patrons and business owners on downtown livability, shopping, parking, safety and other topics.
The students presented their findings to a group of business people and organization leaders at the Economic Action Group meeting on Tuesday.
The results of the survey revealed a disconnect between YSU students and downtown.
“They almost view YSU as completely separate from downtown Youngstown,” Sumell said.
A majority of students surveyed said they would come downtown more often if they felt safer and if finding parking became easier.
The patron survey found most patrons go downtown for the restaurant and bar scene and most of those surveyed find out about what’s happening through social media. Patrons would most like to see a grocery store and bakery downtown.
Downtown business owners found pedestrian way-finding signage, police protection, pedestrian scale lighting, credit card parking meters and one centralized parking garage would all improve business.
The students compared what they found in the survey with peer cities and came up with several takeaways including: downtown Youngstown needs more retail stores, it needs to be more walkable, parking needs to be addressed and there needs to be a cohesive marketing plan to help change the perception of downtown.