The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. has made Mineral Springs Avenue one of its home projects since 2013.

The group also takes up residence throughout the city, places such as Cliff View Street, Granada Avenue, Upland Avenue and East Wilson Street. Ultimately, its goal is to pack up and leave, but first there is rehabilitation and transformative progress to be accomplished.

Partnering with the Mahoning County Land Bank, YNDC met its latest challenge recently by placing five new construction homes on the market. They are located at 753 Mineral Springs Ave., 257 Outlook Ave., 472 Wesley Ave., 210 Granada Ave. and 215 Upland Ave.

Youngstown builder Joe Koch Construction serves as the primary contractor. The structures are approximately 1,400 to 1,500 square feet with two to two-and-a-half baths and three bedrooms.

The price: $170,000 to $180,000.

“The feedback has been very good so far,” said Ian Beniston, YNDC’s executive director. “Those are not the first ones we’ve listed.

“The first six that we’ve done were on Mineral Springs Avenue. We have just about all of those sold.”

To date, 15 new construction homes are for sale. (See www.yndc.org for locations and descriptions.) They all have full basements that are waterproofed and insulated. Each purchase includes a refrigerator, range, microwave range hood, dishwasher, washer and dryer.

The city of Youngstown and the Raymond John Wean Foundation collaborated in 2009 to form the YNDC. The Mahoning County Land Bank has been a valued partner early on, Beniston said.

“We’ve worked with the land bank for almost 15 years,” he said. “Really, since they’ve existed on neighborhood improvement projects, whether that be planning for demolition, vacant lot greening or vacant homes.

“What’s been happening here recently with the new construction … is a natural progression of the neighborhood stabilization work that we’ve been doing with them over the years.”

Funding through the state’s Welcome Home Ohio program is responsible for the city’s spurt in new home construction. In short, the state funnels money to the land bank, which turns it over to YNDC to pay for construction costs. After construction is completed, YNDC returns the deed to the land bank. The house then goes on the market.

Each home under this program is sold at a loss. Located on the city’s Northside and south of the Henry Stambaugh Golf Course, the property at 257 Outlook Ave. is listed for $180,000. Originally, the land bank obtained the site at no cost. Using state funds, the land bank paid $288,230 to the YNDC, which represents a loss of approximately $100,000.

After YNDC pays construction and related costs, leftover proceeds are returned to the housing programs.

“The state recognizes that construction costs are high right now, and the Welcome Home Ohio money is the answer to that problem,” said Debora Flora, the land bank’s executive director. “So the state’s absorbing that cost, and we, in turn, are passing along a house that is more attainable to households than if we had sold it at its construction value.

“This (loss) is meant to right the imbalances of the housing market. … We can’t do it this way forever. We shouldn’t want to do it that way forever, either.”

State funds have allowed YNDC and the land bank to speed up the transformation process.

“It’s a program that its spirit of intent is affordable homeownership, providing new affordable housing options,” Beniston said. “So no matter where you are in the state, if you’re using that funding program, you cannot sell the house for more than $180,000.

Otherwise, it’s a journey that has taken years.

For example, YNDC and the land bank have been improving Mineral Springs Avenue since 2013. The road is located west of Glenwood Avenue and across the street from the Youngstown Playhouse. The Mahoning County Auditor’s website shows James William Quinn deeded 752 Mineral Springs Ave. to the land bank on March 1 of that year.

Sixteen parcels occupy Mineral Springs. Of those, the land bank sold five lots to four families. Three newly built homes are available for sale. Eight remain unimproved and are owned by YNDC.

A potential buyer must meet eligibility requirements and commit to owning and occupying the structure. Each city-based home has a 15-year 100% property tax abatement on all improvements, Beniston said. A $10,000 down payment assistance program from the city is available. Huntington Bank also is offering up to $18,000 in down payment assistance with a qualifying loan.

“One of the things that we’re impressing upon people as we construct these houses is they are made to last,” Flora said. “We are making houses that we expect to live on through many generations of homeowners.

“We want people to be proud of them.”