Last One in Youngstown, Ohio, Turn Out the Lights
By: Diane Tuman, Content Manager | April 14, 2008
Believe it or not, that headline was similar to one posted on a billboard back in 1971 in Seattle, which was commissioned by two Seattle real estate agents who were fed up with the pessimism surrounding the Boeing Bust. Nowadays — thankfully — Seattle is not tethered to one company to provide an economic life support system.
(Photo by Les Christie courtesy CNNMoney)
The same cannot be said of Youngstown, Ohio. When the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company closed its doors in 1977, it was the beginning of the end for the industrial-based city and began a downward slide for its citizens. The city went from population of 165,000 to approximately 80,000. Businesses were shuttered, development stopped on planned communities and houses sat vacant, as drugs, prostitution, and seediness began taking root. City plans in the mid-70’s called for the population to grow to 200-250K, but just the opposite happened. Rather than sit and wait for a miracle to happen, Youngstown unveiled “Youngstown 2010,” which is a plan to embrace its downsized population and become a socially and financially sustainable mid-size city of 80K. To achieve that goal, Youngstown must:
- Promote health care as a new economic power and encourage health care workers to live in Youngstown.
- Embrace Youngstown State University faculty and students and encourage them to live in Youngstown, keep the students in the area upon graduation and link the university with the local economy.
- Retain and attract county, state, and federal offices.
- Create an attractive arts and entertainment sector.
There’s much more, but beyond these obvious goals, the city is also doing something radical with local real estate: It is razing thinly populated blocks, according to an article in CNNMoney. If only a few homes remain occupied within a certain radius, the city is offering up to $50,000 in grants for the owners to move. When they do, the city bulldozes the homes in the area and creates parks and green spaces. This move also saves on garbage pickup, snowplowing, street lighting, and other public service costs. So far, 1,000 homes have been razed.
It is a radical idea and one that I hope succeeds since it’s hard to watch your hometown shrink and die away like I saw with my hometown of Amsterdam, NY. More power to you, Youngstown! We would love to see it work out.
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Hometowns, Real Estate, Real Estate Industry, Zillow
Comments
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Lou on April 14, 2008 3:43 pm
Great Post. Nice to see more and more people thinking about the future for a change.
The Only thing I would add is Promote a Positive Lifestyle, Including the Outdoors! It worked for Seattle, too.
Spencer Rascoff on April 14, 2008 3:51 pm
I read the NY Times article this morning and got so depressed. Yes, it’s great that the good people of Youngstown are working to improve their city, but what a sad predicament to be in.
I’ve been to Youngstown a few times to visit Commercial Intertech, one of my investment banking clients. Sadly, they’re one of the many industrial companies that used to be a big employer in Youngstown and is now a shadow of its former self.
youngstown ohio | Lasts information on April 20, 2008 1:16 am
[…] Last One in Youngstown, Ohio, Turn Out the LightsThe same cannot be said of Youngstown, Ohio. When the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company closed its doors in 1977, it was the beginning of the end for the industrial-based city and began a downward slide for its citizens. …Zillow® Blog - http://www.zillowblog.com […]
Why not try homesteading instead? « The Notorious R.O.B. on April 21, 2008 6:30 pm
[…] 21, 2008 Courtesy of Zillow’s blog, we hear about the economically depressed city of Youngstown, OH razing thinly populated […]
Dayton, Ohio's Foreclosure Ground Zero | Zillow® Blog on June 9, 2008 10:43 am
[…] is costing the city $12.4 million in lost tax revenue and city services. Maybe Dayton should follow Youngstown’s plan of razing thinly populated blocks. Watch this a riveting video of those affected by Dayton’s foreclosure crisis. It’s a […]
Layla on July 11, 2008 7:58 am
It’s sad to see towns that were once thriving industrial centers turned to nothing but rubble.
Marcus on July 11, 2008 11:42 am
I work in Youngstown and live in a suburb. The change is not happening overnight… but there is hope. A group of young professionals are working, partying, and some even live there! But the real hope is that there are people who care. When a developer planned to board up the windows of a downtown building. Those young professionals and business owners mobilized. They blogged, they went on radio and tv, they wrote to the newspaper editor. Mayor Jay Williams intervened, and now the windows of the building are being replaced and Youngstown won’t have to look at another boarded up eyesore for the national media to talk about when they make a whistle stop here.
Phil Kidd on July 11, 2008 12:03 pm
For anyone that thinks that Youngstown is dying or that the citizens here feel sorry for ourselves, please investigate further. Most media is quick to make that assumption because they base it on quick sterotypes. Youngstown has died off enough to the point where a new generation is being quickly attracted to the area for its sheer ability to allow individuals to CREATE vs. consume.
Youngstown has it’s issues but folks moving to Youngstown (or remaining here) are doing so now by CHOICE. This is making a huge difference. Here a sample of our primary leadership age range. Our Mayor - 36, US Congressman - 36; Chief City Planner - 35; Downtown Director - 29; County Commish - 36.
Big difference from even 10yrs ago in Ytown.
More more, please visit:
http://www.DefendYoungstown.com
Phil Kidd
City of Youngstown
Defend Youngstown