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CityScape, Wick Neighbors Merge Organizations
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Following 200 hours of discussion spanning 11 months, Youngstown CityScape and Wick Neighbors, Inc. are merging, expanding the area and type of projects that will be undertaken in the downtown and Wick Park neighborhoods.
While CityScape has typically focused on beautification projects downtown, most notably the annual StreetScape event, Wick Neighbors has worked on infrastructure and revitalization efforts in Wick Park and Smoky Hollow.
Now, under the CityScape name, the unified organization will work on both types of projects, beginning with the Wick Avenue corridor to bring a “ clean, planned look for that cultural mile,” said CityScape's executive director, Sharon Letson.
“It's expanded our mission a little more. These connections to downtown, the neighborhoods, the campus will continue with the drum we've always beat. We're increasing our standards and making sure our look is more professional,” she continued.
Talks to bring the two groups together began last year when CityScape was looking into small infrastructure projects, according to Letson.
“We've been moving in this direction and rather than having two separate organizations, it made sense to have one unified organization doing these things,” she said. “Both boards adopted it without any reservation. By and large, I say the community at this point has been really supportive.”
Annie Gillam, who represents Youngstown's First Ward, said people “want to see this city the way it used to be and [through efforts like this] they will see the city the way it used to be.” Gillam's ward includes downtown and Wick Park.
Similar unifications have taken place in other midwestern cities, CityScape Vice President Scott Schulick said, pointing to Midtown Detroit as a specific example. That area of the city has become a cultural hub, with several theaters, sporting venues and plazas prominently featured.
“Cityscape has a long history that's best known for it's blight removal, visual improvement and beautification. But that's just a piece of what's become a big push for revitalization,” Schulick said. “Today is an exciting day as we take Cityscape and the downtown community to the next level.”
Mayor John McNally said he hopes to have “some very good announcements not just on those corridors [Wick and Rayen Avenues] but all over the city over the next year,” as a result of Wick Neighbors and CityScape merging. He also noted he's had nothing but help from CityScape.
“Cityscape has always been a group I can go to and get things done. They've got a great board, a great staff and a great brand here in Youngstown,” McNally commented. “I think their merger with Wick Neighbors only serves to highlight the things they're going to do -- not only with the redevelopment of Wick Avenue but Lincoln Avenue, Smoky Hollow and a few other projects we're working on.”
The Rev. Richard Murphy, a member of Wick Neighbors' executive committee and president of Ursuline High School, said the members of his organization are enthusiastic about joining with CityScape.
“I bring, with all of us who have served Wick Neighbors the last several years, our enthusiasm, our support and our encouragement of this new collaboration,” Murphy said. “We look forward to a wonderful project that will result in the aesthetic rejuvenation and reconfiguration of our most beautiful historical mile.”
Letson made sure to appease concerns that the combined group, working under the new motto “People, Vision, Action,” would not change its efforts.
“We're not going to stop our planting and our maintenance and those things we've been doing, it's just a little more work,” she said, laughing. “We're going to continue to need [our supporters] for guidance, financial support and we're excited. We think as city, we're really positioned for a project like this one.”
Pictured: The merger of CityScape and Wick Neighors was announced this morning. From left are Mayor John McNally, Peter Asimakopoulos, Rev. Richard Murphy, Sharon Letson, Scott Schulick and Annie Gillam.
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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