Blight study leaves Niles with grant challenges

By Jordan Cohen

news@vindy.com

NILES

A recently completed survey reveals that 186 occupied and vacant homes are in need of either major refurbishing or demolition, but the figure represents only 2 percent of Niles houses, which poses a funding problem.

“We may be able to get medium-sized grants, but we don’t qualify for larger grants,” said Jeff Crowley, housing maintenance code enforcement officer. “Our problems aren’t viewed as serious when compared with those of Youngstown and Warren.”

Crowley, who supervises the city’s Neighborhood Stabilization Initiative, said the monthlong study was conducted by 60 volunteers from Avenue and Main, a local community group. The National Association of Realtors funded the $4,500 study, which was reviewed and validated by Youngstown State University.

“YSU said we have credible information, and you can’t go after grant money unless you know the problem,” Crowley said. “It isn’t big, but it’s big enough.”

The enforcement officer said five of the houses are “currently earmarked for demolition,” but no general-fund money is available due to the city’s ongoing fiscal emergency. Safety Service Director James DePasquale said the price of demolition is $5,500 per house unless the building contains asbestos. “Then it’s around $96,000 to demolish,” he said.

The study reveals that 104 of the 186 dilapidated buildings are in the city’s Fourth Ward, which surprised its councilman.

“I knew there were problems, but did not realize the volume specific to [my] ward,” said Barry Steffey, D-4th, after reviewing the study. Steffey said one of those structures is directly across the street from his home.

“It’s been abandoned for three years. Windows are broken and curtains fly around inside,” Steffey said. “I walk outside every morning, and that is what I look at.”

The blight issue is not limited to housing. Council President Robert Marino said several abandoned downtown businesses are rapidly becoming eyesores. He suggested the city follow Youngstown’s lead on business development and referred his fellow council members to an Oct. 19 report in The Vindicator as an example.

The story updated Youngstown’s efforts to reach settlements with East Side homeowners who will move so a manufacturer can build facilities producing self-chilling beverage cans.

“It would be my hope the administration formulates a plan for downtown,” he said. “We need to take a more positive, aggressive position.”

Similar to Marino’s request, Crowley also said the city has to develop a housing strategic master plan for the future.

“We have an opportunity but we have to manage it well,” he said.

Crowley and council members expect to begin meetings in each ward beginning in January to discuss a plan and get input from residents.

“Money will come to good ideas but we have to have good ideas,” Crowley said.