April 2023
Heavy Slate of Demolitions Under Way Countywide
With backing from a $6.8 million state grant, the Land Bank expects to demolish 596 beyond-repair houses over the next two years. As of late April, 37 houses had already been razed, including the two pictured above on Oxford Street in Campbell. A nine-unit Youngstown Sheet & Tube "company home" was also razed.
Royal China Site Cleanup Gains Momentum
Remediation of the long-contaminated Royal China site took a major step forward last month with the beginning of delineation testing that will shape the removal of lead-laden soil.
CityScape at Briel's Powers Native Plant Greening
The Land Bank is working closely with CityScape at Briel’s in Youngstown to secure more native plants to green sites cleared by housing demolitions. The Kentucky Coffee Tree plants above are among the nearly 5,000 plants and trees native to Mahoning County that leaders expect to source this year, compared to less than 500 last year, when the emphasis on native plants was new. In addition to Kentucky Coffee Tree, the native plants will include Blue Sage, Wild Basil, Whorled Mountainmint, Spotted Beebalm and others.
Consider Planting a Pollinator Garden This Spring
It’s not difficult to plant a garden that draws local pollinators like bees, butterflies, bats, beetles, moths, flies, wasps and hummingbirds. The Land Bank is proud to be among the supporters of “Pollinator Gardens: Step by Step,” published by the Mahoning Valley Healthy Community Partnership.
Asbestos-Laden Commercial Building Razed
The Land Bank recently coordinated the demolition of a two-story, asbestos-laden building at 2307 Market St. on Youngstown’s South Side. Funded by a $86,887 in state brownfield grant, the project opened a new opportunity for development along the Market Street Corridor.
Spring Fest in Youngstown Explores Pollination
The Land Bank was proud to be a co-sponsor of the 2023 Spring Arts Festival in Youngstown, which featured lessons on native plants and pollination and art projects with messages about those priorities. The April event was a joint effort between the Youngstown City Schools, Students Motivated by the Arts (SMARTS) and the Rotary Club of Youngstown’s Operation Pollination initiative.
The Dirt is published by the Mahoning County Land Bank. To learn more, call us at
330-259-1040, email us here or visit our website.