Photo: Sharon Letson of Youngstown CityScape Provides An Overview of the Wick Park Project / Vindicator

The Wick Park neighborhood’s ongoing revitalization efforts made big news this week.

On Tuesday, members of the organization as well as the MVOC’s Vacant Property Campaign committee delivered a 100 person signed letter to City Hall which expressed the group’s dissatisfaction with the city’s lack of follow through regarding a code enforcement sweep that was conduced 30 days ago (read letter here).

Also, on Wednesday, the neighborhood celebrated the delivery of a $100,000K grant from the Youngstown Foundation for improvements to the central portion of the park which will create better access for citizens of all ability levels.

Read more:

Vindicator: Wick Park At A Cross Roads

Business Journal: $100K Grant To Improve Wick Park Access

Business Journal Blog: A New Vision For Wick Park

WKBN: Wick Park Revitalization Plan

Video: Sharon Letson (CityScape) and Jan Strasfeld (Youngstown Foundation) on grant

A big thanks to everyone who offered feedback on our asks or attended the PRC meeting today.

The PRC assured us that they would:

• Request an estimate for the light upgrades and monthly costs from First Energy.
• Discuss blocking vehicular traffic after dark with other parties in the City.
• Meet with us by next month’s meeting to discuss progress on our requests.

And all but three lights in Wick Park are now functioning properly—go check it out. Wick Park is brighter than it has been in months.

We’ll work with the Park & Recreation Commission until we see the results that our neighborhood needs.

In the meantime, there will be an event next Wednesday, August 3rd, at 10am in Wick Park for the $100,000 grant recently awarded for improvements to park infrastructure.

Check out Vindicator coverage here: http://www.vindy.com/news/2011/jul/29/group-increase-safety-at-park/
Thanks again to everyone. We are continuing to move forward in our neighborhood.

Gary

Thanks to all who came out to assist on Saturday. Also, a special thanks goes to Tony (Second Nature Landscaping), Streetscape for the mulch, Treez Please for the tree, Brian Hinz for all of his equipment / 360 water / undying labor and Sean Burkholder for his help with planning and execution.

Also, an extra special thank you goes to the Raymond J. Wean Foundation Neighborhood SUCCESS Grant program for providing the financial assistance to make the project possible.

Below is video coverage of the project:

• Wick Park Neighborhood Golden Dawn Lot Project

Sunday marked a unique experience for Wick Park when recently married couple Anthony and Megan LaMarca planted a Hawthorne tree as a symbol of their hope for prosperous future together. A special thanks goes out to Treez Please for their assistance with tree selection, site preparation and installation.

Also, members of the Wick Park Neighborhood Association as well as students from YSU will conduct a major neighborhood cleanup from 9:30am-12pm.

If you would like to volunteer for the Easter Egg Hunt, please call Maggie at (330) 743-9198 or Deb at (330) 744-1748. If you would like to volunteer for the clean up, contact Gary (330) 518-7037 or Phil (330) 519-8712.

Al Casanta and his partners Tom Calpin and Mark Ravenstahl at Home Buyer Funding are working close with the university to renovate and upgrade houses around the Wick Park area, and show students that alternative housing options exist.

(FULL STORY)

Residents of the Wick Park neighborhood woke up Saturday morning after two days of heavy snowfall to completely white, impassable sidewalks.

By Saturday afternoon, 60 volunteers armed with nothing but shovels and a will to fight back against the winter’s wrath cleared a path along the Elm Street sidewalks so churchgoers would not have to worry Sunday morning.

FULL STORY

By Sean Barron / news@vindy.com

If all goes according to plan, many North Side residents will see a producer and keeper of fresh, organic foods move to their neighborhood.

Sweetening the deal will be the likelihood of full-time jobs, business opportunities and additional money for the local economy.

It’s the main package that promises to make up the Northeast Ohio Food Hub, a facility that will feature a shared-use commercial-kitchen incubator, explained Jim Converse, manager of the North Side Farmer’s Market.

“It’s a similar concept to the Youngstown Business Incubator,” Converse said recently, referring to the downtown nonprofit corporation designed to accelerate the growth, formation and success of technology-based businesses in the Mahoning Valley. “[Except] it’s food related, not tech related.”

FULL STORY

I. Welcome (New Members)

• Jimmy Mszanski (21 Indiana Ave.)
• Kathy Brown (St. E’s Hospital)
• Melissa Cook (Burdman Group)

II. Old Business

Neighborhood Property Survey:
Update: Survey was not conducted but a group agreed that 66 Indiana, 241 N. Heights, 1319 & 1321 Wick Ave. were priorities. The group also discussed what roads should be requested to be paved. Finishing the other half of Park as well as patching up 5^th Ave were suggested.
Action: Give one week for final input then submit to Councilman Brown and Councilwoman Gillam

Wick Park Security Guard:
Update: Rob Piloli stated that Councilwoman Annie Gillam contacted the Park Department regarding why the guard does not patrol. Neither Rob P. or Annie could attend the meeting the meeting to provide an update.
Action: Follow up with Councilwomen Gillam after the meeting / report to group on update.

Wick Park Holiday Decorations:
Update: All decorations (with the exception of one bow) were removed.
Action: N/A (issue resolved)

107 Broadway Ave:
Update: Property ownership was identified; Councilwoman Gillam had the structured secured; letter has not been drafted to property owner as of yet.
Action: Draft letter to owner; have group review and send out in no less than one week.

Marketing of Properties / Financing of Homes:
Update: Website has been updated. Phil K. stated that home ownership options are limited but demand for quality rental in the neighborhood is very high (he gets calls and emails fairly regularly). Financing: Phil K. indicated that he has had no luck with the banks regarding financing of house on Elm. John C. and Deb W. were unable to attend and could not provide update on their end. Steve T (Home Buyer Funding) stated that his company may be able to assist / will follow up by end of the week. Steve also gave an update on Home Buyer Funding properties indicating that the Bryson Street apartment building had been purchased and the company is going to invest $300,000K into the renovation; 21 Indiana Ave is done / occupied and will be repainted when the weather breaks; 235 Park Ave is almost complete and Home Buyer Funding and invited the group to conduct the March 2011 meeting at the house so to show it off (group agreed).
Action: Steve to follow up regarding finance options via his company; consider marketing document similar to what the Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association is putting together; conduct next meeting at 235 Park Ave.

Group Homes:
Update: Group attended the planning commission meeting and provided objection to 2,000ft waiver / Planning Commission deferred to legal department who believes they might be grandfathered in (Fairgreen); also, the State is looking to shut down the House of Hope on Illinois Ave. Group (via email) voted on whether to draft letter to Mahoning Common Pleas Court Judge (handling case) to support state’s position. Group agreed (but cited concerns regarding whether clients will be displaced / what will happen to the vacant structures?).  Also, it was discussed that the group needs to document all unlicensed group homes operating in the neighborhood. 
Action: Draft letter Mahoning County Common Pleas court in support of state’s position regarding House of Hope (Illinois Ave); MVOC staff willing to assist with determining unlicensed group homes.

Madison Ave Auto Group Zoning Issue:
Update: No activity; joint letter to property owner (neighborhood group, Councilwoman Gillam, Metro Church, Ursuline) yet to be drafted. Pat R. also suggested that we examine the zoning violation with the auto repair lot on the corner of Andrews & Logan (are they in violation?).
Action: Draft letter / follow up with Councilwoman Gillam regarding both zoning issues.

Bailey’s Stuff:
Update: Signage issue remains unresolved. Photo documentation of violation was recorded this past weekend / will be presented to Design Review again. The hold up is that the zoning official must enforce decision and is not doing so. Gary D. also mentioned that he did a ride-a-long with local police and they stated the store was subject to a recent armed robbery but nothing was officially reported.
Action: Draft letter to Design Review Board / group members attend the meeting.

Code Enforcement / Land Bank:
Update: Land Bank to be voted on before the end of the month / should be operational by July 1^st; MVOC to conduct code enforcement press conference on March 3^rd (but Housing Appeals Board up and running so citations can be issued).
Action: Get Deb Flora (Land Bank) & Brenda Williams (Code Enforcement) to the next meeting to discuss need to have the properties surrounding the park (historic district) prioritized.

Neighborhood Safety:
o Update: YPD Police Chief was to attend meeting but had to reschedule for next meeting (did provide update on the shooting). Jimmy M. indicated that students who live on Indiana Ave. want better conditions (lighting, fencing, etc). Steve T. stated that Home Buyer Funding is working to install improved lighting on the streets, wireless emergency call stations as well as fenced lots. There was some further discussion regarding the lighting capabilities / payment as well as the wireless stations.
Action: YPD Police Chief to attend next meeting; Home Buyer Funding to install the lighting as a demonstration project on Indiana.

Increase Partnership with YSU Students:
Update: Gary has organized a neighborhood cleanup for this Saturday with YSU students & group. There was discussion regarding what should be targeted. With the weather at play, it appeared as if clearing out a vacant house for the North Side Citizens Coalition (plus board up another on N. Heights) would be appropriate as ground will be covered.
Action: Cleanup – Saturday (Feb 26^th) / 10am-12pm/ meet at 1^st Unitarian Church.

PROJECT & EVENTS:

Wick 6 District Parking Lot Improvement:
Update: Phil met with planner; as soon as (sever) weather breaks, infrastructure (railroad ties) to be organized / placed onto site.
Action: Follow up with Councilman Brown regarding railroad ties / Tony (contractor) regarding installation.

Wick Park Easter Egg Hunt:
Update: Maggie & Deb have set the date (April 16^th) and have promotional material ready; need volunteers to assist.
Action: Secure park; organize volunteers (3 volunteers recruited from meeting).

“Welcome to Wick Park” & Historic District Street Signage:
Update: Wean Foundation SUCCESS Grant (March 15^th)?
Action: Group agreed to include signage in with March 15^th grant.

Wick Park Improvement Project:
Update: Sharon Letson (Youngstown Cityscape) to bring in Urban Design Center to do conceptual drawing for roadways in park; group input will be sought / grant to the Youngstown Foundation will be submitted in next fiscal cycle.
Action: Follow up with Sharon regarding timeline / input.

FUNDRAISING:

Grey to Green Festival Fundraiser:
Update: Ideas have included: 1.) a walk (and/or 5K run) with Historical Walk Tour 2.) all-you-can-pancake breakfast with Historial Walking Tour:
Action: Tabled for next meeting (due to time)

III. New Business

Issue: Susan M. stated that she is a member of the North Side Weed & Seed and that the group has $6K to spend on code enforcement / seeking ideas. Phil K. suggested that the group connect with Maureen O’Neil who is the chair of the new Housing Appeals board at the City of Youngstown. The board is currently organizing resources from each side of the city for appeals cases in target area or “sweep” zones. If the funding can be allocated for this, the city will likely conduct code enforcement in the Weed & Seed area

Action: Susan to present idea to board / Phil will follow up with Maureen.

IV. Announcements

City Council Report

Neither city councilperson attended the meeting.

Other Announcements

Jim Converse stated that the Vindicator was going to do a story on the Food Incubator (click here for link to story). Congrats Jim / Pat!

 V. Adjourn