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422 Corridor Study Viewed as Development Model
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Officials throughout the Mahoning Valley already are looking to a study of the Route 422 corridor area in the cities of Girard and Youngstown as a potential model for redevelopment efforts in their communities, Tom Humphries said.
Humphries, CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, was among area leaders on hand Friday for the announcement of the plan to study a 3,500-acre area surrounding the Route 422 corridor in the two counties. The plan is to capitalize on the momentum provided by Vallourec Star's $1.2 billion investment in the area, he said.
"This is a great chance to look at a footprint and see how far we might be able to apply this in Leavittsburg, Struthers [and] Campbell. Every one of the main corridors into our community might want to look into this," Humphries said.
The $150,000 study is being spearheaded by the Regional Chamber, Trumbull County Planning Commission and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.
"It is no secret that from Lowellville to Leavittsburg the route 422 corridor embodies the entire Mahoning Valley and at the center of this historic route sits the brand-new Vallourec pipe mill. This is the beating heart of the Valley," said John Rossi, coordinator for the Route 422 project. "It is the geographical intersection of Trumbull and Mahoning counties. Yet it is more. It is the intersection of past prosperity and present potential," he observed.
The goal of the study is to end up with a series of "action-oriented strategies aimed at improving Route 422," said Scott Page, founder and principal of Interface Studios, the Philadelphia consulting firm contracted to do the study. That could include identifying sites for potential development, improvements in transportation infrastructure and ways to improve the corridor aesthetically "to become a better front door for Youngstown and Girard," he said. Input will be solicited from businesses and residents within the study area.
The study -- the results will be released in January -- also will look at identifying potential funding partners and sources for the recommended improvements. "There's no point in doing a plan without implementation," Page said. To build momentum, the study will contain objectives that can be achieved within the year following the plan's release.
Interface has done similar projects in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Rochester, N.Y., and Louisville. "We think there's a singular and unique opportunity here with the 422 corridor. We have something that a lot of these cities are clamoring for, which is momentum," Page said.
With the economic activity spurred by the growing shale industry and the success of the Chevrolet Cruze, the hot-selling General Motors built in Lordstown, We want to make sure that we take advantage of very opportunity that comes along that will improve out economy and quality of life for the people of Mahoning and Trumbull counties," said Trumbull County Commissioner Dan Polivka. "The workable outcome of this planning process will provide us with information we need to accomplish our goals."
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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