Youngstown to do slum and blight analysis

YOUNGSTOWN

The city hired a company today to do a “slum and blight analysis” of four areas that could be redeveloped for “industrial green” businesses.

The board of control signed a $25,000 deal with CT Consultants, with an office in Youngstown, to determine if the locations meet the state criteria of blighted parcels and if the areas meet the required threshold of 70 percent to be eligible as an urban renewal area, said T. Sharon Woodberry, the city’s director of community planning and economic development.

The long-term plan would be to acquire the largely vacant property through either fair-market purchases or eminent domain and make the land available for industrial green businesses, such as distribution warehouses and light manufacturing companies, Woodberry said.

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