Landbank funds Route 422 study
WARREN – Trumbull County Landbank board this week approved providing $10,000 for a study examining what can be done along a stretch of U.S. Route 422 from state Route 193 to Liberty Street in downtown Girard.
The study is to develop a master plan looking at economic and neighborhood development along the corridor. The effort is to take advantage of the significant investment that has already done in the area by the improvements at V&M Star and bring in more development.
“We believe the study will cost between $125,000 and $150,000 to complete,” Ian Beniston, a member of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., said.
The Trumbull County Landbank board approved providing $10,000 on the condition that it gets legal advice to make sure its charter allows the contribution and that Girard also financially invests in the project. Girard Mayor James Melfi said about 1 1/2 miles of the project area is in Girard.
Melfi said the city has committed to providing up to $20,000 for the project.
“When V&M Star was looking to make its investments, its representatives made it clear that it is a progressive industry and wants to be in a good looking area,” Melfi said. “We would like to see some complementary type businesses in this corridor.”
Other agencies approached to donate to this project also have included Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority, Mahoning County Landbank, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, Trumbull County Commissioners, Trumbull Planning Commission, Youngstown and others.