Land Bank Celebrates Record 54 Demolitions in 1 Month; Latest Project Turns Vacant Property into WRTA Bus Shelter
Leaders of the Mahoning County Land Bank, Mill Creek MetroParks, Western Reserve Transit Authority and neighborhood associations joined today at an abandoned house on Mahoning Avenue to mark the land bank’s record 54th demolition project in one month.
The location is significant — across the street from a new WRTA bus stop at a site where the land bank leveled a house in February.
“Demolishing 54 abandoned houses in a month is a major milestone for the land bank and impressive proof of what great teamwork can accomplish,” said Debora Flora, executive director of the land bank. “We’re excited about the momentum we’ve developed to turn abandoned properties into productive spaces.
“We chose this site for our record-setting 54th demolition in a month because of the visual impact it will make. Many individuals pass this part of Mahoning Avenue on their way to work or school and it sits so close to beautiful Mill Creek Park. Right across the street is the site of a new WRTA bus shelter, which will be completed later this month.
The land bank has been demolishing abandoned houses and buildings since March 2015, bringing relief to neighbors and local governments. To date, it has completed 787 demolitions.
The previous record for demolitions in a month was 46. The 54 September demolitions occurred in Beaver Township, Campbell, Struthers and Youngstown.
Today’s celebration also included representatives of Rocky Ridge Neighbors and the Garden District Neighborhood Association, two West Side neighborhood groups that started the conversation about adding a bus shelter to this significant location.
Rocky Ridge Neighborhood Association received a grant from the Raymond John Wean Foundation’s SUCCESS program to assist with the funding for the WRTA bus shelter project.
“The land bank continues to leverage its unique authority for taking action in situations when property owners do not,” said Dan Yemma, county treasurer and chairman of the land bank. “Our efforts help restore neighborhood and community pride, and we’re gaining momentum. With the support of dedicated neighborhood organizations, our efforts are especially productive.”
The Mahoning County Land Bank is a nonprofit community improvement corporation dedicated to acquiring vacant, abandoned, tax-delinquent properties and making them productive again. The land bank assists local governments in assembling land for future projects and collaborates with civic, religious and nonprofit organizations to create new green spaces and community gardens.
Read more at the news stories below:
The Business Journal – Land Bank, Neighborhood Groups Partner to Combat Blight
The Vindicator – Land Bank Turns Abandoned Property into Bus Stop
