Land Bank, YNDC Take Partnership to New Level with New Homes, Blight Removal

YNDC broke ground on three new South Side homes on land once occupied by vacant, dilapidated houses the Land Bank demolished.

The Mahoning County Land Bank and Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. recently celebrated a groundbreaking that marks the use of a new strategy – new home construction – in the partners’ efforts to improve neighborhoods in the city.

Leaders from the partner organizations joined city officials and other key partners Thursday for the event on Helena Avenue in the Handel’s neighborhood.

 “We’re taking our partnership with YNDC to a new place with this collaboration,” said DEBORA FLORA, Land Bank executive director. “This neighborhood has a century of history and many memories tied to it, so we’re glad to see that YNDC will be adding new homes to replace the blight we’ve removed, so that new memories can be made for years to come.”

The Land Bank specializes in acquiring vacant, abandoned properties and repurposing them, and YNDC’s services include renovating homes and marketing them to qualified buyers. This marks the partners’ first foray into new homes.

The Land Bank had demolished four houses and cleared eight properties in the neighborhood before turning them over to YNDC.

“We wouldn’t have been able to take on this project without the Land Bank, which was the vehicle that’s been able to acquire properties, demolish houses and then transfer the land to us,” said Ian Beniston, YNDC executive director. “This project is exemplary of the power of the Land Bank and its ability to remove blight and hold land for future productive use. We look forward to repopulating this neighborhood.”

This collaboration is part of an effort to revitalize the street and the Handel’s neighborhood.

“It’s always great to see the impact we can make by joining forces in concentrated areas,” said Debora.

You can read more of the story at the Vindicator or the Business Journal.