WARREN — Residents of Warren’s Historic Perkins and Garden District neighborhoods gathered Tuesday at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library to share ideas for updating a decade-old community plan.

The meeting was organized by Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and attracted a mix of some longtime locals and nearby neighbors. The group identified some strengths of their neighborhood, like historic homes and walkability, while grappling with challenges such as crime, out-of-state landlords and high housing rehabilitation costs.

It was the inaugural session in an expected series of monthly meetings. TNP’s Lydia Lynch said the meetings are aimed at refreshing the Central City Neighborhood Plan, which was first adopted in 2015 amid the post-foreclosure crisis and concerns over blighted properties and vacant lots.

Lynch facilitated the discussion, addressing the need for resident-driven priorities in areas like housing, transportation, economic development and green spaces.

“Over the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve seen significant progress,” Lynch said, pointing to citywide demolitions exceeding 1,200 structures and a 50% drop in vacant properties since a 2013 parcel inventory funded by a HUD grant.

In the targeted neighborhoods bounded by South Street, Mahoning Avenue NW, Forest Street and Chestnut Avenue NE, the focus shifted from mere demolition to sustainable reinvestment.

The updated plan will incorporate feedback from surveys, stakeholder interviews and events like Tuesday’s meeting to guide public and private funding over the next decade.

A SWOT analysis, which assesses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, formed the core of the evening’s productivity.

Strengths highlighted among the district’s assets were the historic homes dating back to the 1920s, a core of dedicated residents, prime location near downtown restaurants and amenities, and strong daytime walkability.

“We’re right in the heart of the city,” said Melissa Phillips, a Garden District resident whose family owns a 1925 brick house on Perkins Drive. She recounted the area’s rich history, noting figures like Harriet Taylor Upton who was instrumental in the 19th Amendment’s ratification, and aviation pioneer Ernie Hall.

Phillips, joined by her husband Kyle, shared how the neighborhood’s potential drew her back to Warren to raise a family.

“We bought our house through a private negotiation, it’s our forever home,” she said. “We’ve invested more than we could sell it for.”

Her story led to a conversation about historic homes and the steep maintenance costs that can come with them.

Kyle Milyak and Tiffany Beam, neighbors who said they’ve been living across the street from each other for five years on Washington Avenue, met for the first time at Tuesday’s meeting.

“That’s the start of the solution … neighbors coming together,” said resident and former Warren city councilman James Valesky, recalling past neighborhood associations that transformed blighted areas through collective action.

Beam lamented an issue she deals with of uneven sidewalks that make using a stroller with her children more challenging.

The group also discussed delayed development on vacant lots and the burden of rehabilitating aging homes.

“These houses are huge so gas bills alone are a challenge for young families,” said Janet Hazlet, a transit advocate from outside the district who attended to discuss lost bus routes. She recalled public transportation many years ago and urged using surveys to gauge demand.

Crime was a persistent concern.

Milyak detailed recent incidents on his block, including the shooting death of a mail carrier on Vine Avenue and other shootings nearby.

“When you sit on your couch wondering if that’s fireworks or gunshots, there’s a problem,” he said. “What young family wants to move into that?”

Lynch suggested that increasing density through infill housing could enhance safety, “More eyes on the street create social pressure and deter issues.”

Out-of-town landlords drew particular ire, with suggestions for enhanced code enforcement. “Not all are bad, but some just let properties decay,” said Joseph Valimont, a resident and landlord. He suggested ordinances requiring out-of-town owners to attend inspections, arguing current codes fail to demand they “spend some time with their property.”

Opportunities centered on leveraging funding for large-scale projects, subsidies to offset rehab expenses and incentives for local business owners to reside in the district. “How do we draw more people who are double-invested — their home and job here?” Kyle Phillips said.

He linked it to restoring a sense of ownership lost since Warren’s industrial heyday. Some threats identified included an aging population and declining volunteerism.

Green infrastructure, like expanding the urban tree canopy which Lydia described as being at 26%, the city’s lowest, and supporting the 13 vacant commercial properties in the central district were also prioritized.

TNP is actively recruiting community ambassadors to broaden outreach to have diverse voices that live in the neighborhood shape the plan.

“It was honest and passionate, with newer residents and super long-timers,” she said afterward. “That mix changes the trajectory if more people get involved and advocate for tangible changes.”