When I was going to college at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, I worked at Hyman's Wholesale. At that time Charleston seemed to me to be worse than Youngstown in urban decay. During that time a young bright Mayor rose to power with a focus on making Charleston a destination point. His first project was going to Italy and negotiating the move of the 100 year old "Spoletto" which was languishing, to Charleston, he was successful. He designated the historic battery to promote itself and all the other historic sites to do the same. I remember the historic "slave market" which many southerners were ashamed of, being used as a seedy flea market. With this spirit, hotels started to invest and build, historic places were invested in and the slave market became a site tourist wanted to see. Today, Charleston boast one of the hotest tourist attractions in the country. The old Hyman's wholesale has been one of the hotest restaurants in the country and the buildings it occupies rose in value from 60K to a over a million today.
Youngstown's history as little Chicago or Mobtown can be reversed and made into a positive thing. Several years ago, I spoke of a Mob museum with reenactments of bank robberies or even car bombings on the streets of Youngstown. Or, even a "hit" with fake blood and actors falling on the street with cop cars flying around. When my wife and I toured Chicago, one of the hotest attractions was "Tommy Gun" Dinner Theatre. I remember an actor getting on the tour bus with a fake Tommy gun and dressed like the 20's and calling the lady's "dolls" and the men "guys". Only by creating value will Youngstown return from the brink. Only by giving people a reason to visit and invest in Youngstown will we prosper again. Until then, the B&O, Anthony's and now Rossetta Stone will come and go.
Ron, I was in Charleston last year and visited the slave market. Its certainly a beautiful town and we want to go back again.
You know, the history of steelmaking can also tie into this, since the mob existed here because of the money generated by the steel plants. Maybe this could turn into something that would make Youngstown a destination spot.
Right on Rick, I hope you and I are not the only ones with vision here. Across the street from the slave market is my old college roommate's restaurant, Hyman's Seafood. You would be amazed at the list of celebrities who have visited his restaurant and Charleston. Goggle Hyman's Seafood Company and check it out. Funny when he and I worked for his Dad at the old rundown wholesale house, we worked around an old wrought iron spiral stairway made in "Ohio", today the stairway is a showpiece in his restaurant. I still communicate with Aaron and he constantly gives me advise on how Charleston turned around, this is why I holler a lot because I see our City doing nothing really to recreate Youngstown.
ytownshrimp you talk like if the mafia was a good thing for ytown. i am Italian and i am embarrassed by my Italian her titage when it comes to the mob life. one must live the beautiful MAFIA life before one can glorify it. i am the one not to give praise and homage to that Italian past but i will pay homage to the beautiful art works, Italian marble villas, the homemade wines, the cuisine, the operas, and the many beautiful men/women, girls/boys of Italian decent. :-*
"Several years ago, I spoke of a Mob museum with reenactments of bank robberies or even car bombings on the streets of Youngstown. Or, even a "hit" with fake blood and actors falling on the street with cop cars flying around. "
Um.....No. A museum to educate on the history of the mob in y-town is one thing. But blood and car bombings on the street just seems like glorification to me. You should tie some positive education behind this somewhere. The mafia did much more bad than good, that needs to be clear.
I sat in Al Capone's jail cell - right on the bed he used to sleep in.
(Alcatraz Island tour - 2001)
LOL
:)
The name of the game is to find something that will bring in the tourists. An organized crime museum will bring in the visitors. Its different and that is what sells. Other places have capitalized upon unsavory parts of their history and turned it into a positive:
Mafia Museum opens in New York:
http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/114154/mafia-museum-to-open-in-east-village
Another one for Las Vegas:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/world/americas/11iht-vegas.4.19252064.html
Follow in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper:
http://www.jacktheripperwalk.com/index2.html
Charleston's Slave Mart, building in which humans were sold is now an historic site:
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/charleston/osm.htm
This just scratches the surface, but I do know that more people would come to Youngstown to visit the "Murdertown USA Museum" than will come here to see the Youngstown Steel Heritage Park.
I see a flicker of vision, I don't know if it is going to ignite or burn out, please, catch fire , please don't burn out, ahhhh...crap!
Somewhere in the bible it says "people without vision perish" , is this what happened to Youngstown?
Who was the one that wanted to build a mafia museum in downtown a few years ago?
There is plenty of vision out on Hubbard Road! We're growing so fast I can't keep up. Currently working on another 100 tons worth of steel industry equipment to add to the collection!
Yes Rick, there is vision on Hubbard road and I always admired your hardwork. Keep it up bro!
Quote from: Youngstownshrimp on September 02, 2010, 11:49:38 PM
I see a flicker of vision, I don't know if it is going to ignite or burn out, please, catch fire , please don't burn out, ahhhh...crap!
Somewhere in the bible it says "people without vision perish" , is this what happened to Youngstown?
Since you seem to be the only one with vision and claim to be the only "doer" in Youngstown why are you looking for approval here? I would think that a self proclaimed real estate expert such as yourself would have the ability to just "do" a project. Haven't you made millions with all of your savvy real estate projects?
i really like the idea of a downtown museum... how in the world do you get funding for such a large project?
If we think commerce, first we should form a business plan within this forum, with those here that can be constructive. Right here, right on this forum, throw ideas around. Invite experts, like the Oakland artsy people, Easy Street, or even the Playhouse. Raise the money privately and government playing a supportive role, a little financial, a little leadership approach. Get the region behind it with contribution of knowhow.
Let's see how far we can move this ball forward.
While tourism is a good thing, a museum to glorify the activities of the mafia is a terrible idea.
The mafia ruined many peoples' lives, and helped to hinder the progress of economic development the Youngstown region for about 20 years.
Charleston did not develop a thriving tourism industry because of highlighting tourism connected to slavery. It did it through protecting and rehabilitating historical architecture, emphasizing the arts, and having a good young leader in Mayor Joe Riley who has now been a progressive chief executive for 36 years running.
We need "doers" in this town who revitalize and renovate the historical houses which they have purchased, instead of not investing in them, which force third parties to clean up their messes.
Just think of the potential of a vibrant north side that was bolstered 20 years ago instead of pillaged.
The tourism solution does not rest on one factor alone. Charleston couldn't have made it if it wasn't for (a) leadership and (b) reinvestment.
I agree on kudos to Rick for his efforts on the East Side.
am i missing something on this thread concerning the mafia museum. ??? i will admit that i enjoyed going to the all nite gin joints and gambling places that were runned by the mob but the other stuff that came with the Mafia lifestyle i do not cherish those images/memories. :-X rr what kind of economic development going on Hubbard rd? there is enough unoccuppied land on the lower ytown ss to recreate ytown history like dearborn, mi.
The Mob as a theme would not be glorifying the Mafia but rather accepting the past and using it to better ourselves in a positive education way. Albeit one cannot argue with success as the Sopranos and The Godfather taught us. As Rick would know, doing is very hard work, one must be willing to get their hands dirty and withstand the ridicule from the talkers. This is not new, it has been this way for all innovators and is the norm, but the freethinkers move forward and overcome.
Yes the pillagers have been destroying Youngstown for generations, all the judges, sheriff, congressman, and now the recent indictments of major politicians and their handlers. Not to mention the discovery of nonprofits (MYCAP) lining their pockets. In Charleston, on the eve of its renaissance I was privileged to be a roomate of one of the eminent restaurant geniuses Charleston has ever produced. Aaron Hyman and I were younger then but we and others knew that free enterprise was what Charleston needed again, Mayor Riley was a true leader then and now. Today, the name Hyman in Charleston is synonymous with Charleston's revival, iwasthere.
The architecture that was left to us by the steel titans of the world is irreplaceable and yes very little reinvestment. The problem is not that there are no investors, the playing field has been rendered a bad risk for investors, don't take my word, open your eyes. Or ask Rick what happened to the apprehended thieves who were caught red handed with his iron, NADA, not a %&#$#^& thing. Here, the entitled tenancy are allowed to roam freely and plunder the real estate with no consequences and yet we blame the investor, no wonder there are a very few left. But of course, we won't change, this approach has been going on for decades.
We need doers and we need leaders, capable leaders like Riley who is a doer.
i rather use my energy in promoting the old idora park into amusement/zoo/waterpark then waste my energy on anything that deals with the Mafia.
What have you done to make that a reality?
With the amount of feedback on this topic, I think Lyndsey should have Youngstown look into this or get a committee together with the artsy people in town, I'll be the worker (proletariat).
Quote from: Rick Rowlands on September 08, 2010, 07:01:52 PM
What have you done to make that a reality?
not much but i would like to start fact-finding committee on this issue. would like to be part of this committee? the biggest huddle is to take back that piece property of j williams church through eminent domain because that church would want to make a fast buck
Yes. I would like to participate.
Yes, I would like to participate as long as no pork and stimulus money is begged for.
it sounds like a plan. ytownshrimp what would you recommend istead of pork and stimulus monies to grease the players envolved? ;D
As I said, first we need to get the City, Lynds a shot at this. If they are not interested, we go to the Artsy folks like Easy Street, The Playhouse, etc. We need a concerted effort here not just one or two people.
ytown shrimp we need private interested inds not public officials whose interests lies with mt calvary church leaders. we need private investors who are not afraid to tackle the mt calvary church officials that are employed in the city hall.
iwasthere, we need everyone to come together, it does not appear that the City , and some do read this board are not interested. This is why many innovators leave the City and create success somewhere else.
ytownshrimp back in the 80's the Geagua Lake Amusement Park Corp want to buy Idora for a satillite park but the powers to be in the valley had other plans that did not include keeping its landmark without a personal price.
sorry haven't read this thread in a while, are we talking about revitalizing idora into a water park / amusement / zoo? I love that idea. I think that would be better then a mafia museum.
Quote from: Lynds on September 24, 2010, 11:12:49 AM
sorry haven't read this thread in a while, are we talking about revitalizing idora into a water park / amusement / zoo? I love that idea. I think that would be better then a mafia museum.
lynds that is the idea from me. i do not want that piece of land to go into hands of the millcrk board. the mahoning valley needs other kind of entertainment then what millcrk has offered in the past that i do enjoy attending but the mahoning valley needs our own water/amusement/retirement zoo that canbe turned into from the former idora park land.
Two years has passed and sadly nothing innovative here transpired, not even Idora park zoo.
Thank God they found oil here or this place would continue to spiral into Ethiopia.
if it is not the powers to be idea then it will not haappen in the mv.
Is now the time?
Does the land still belong to the church that had bought it years ago?
Alan, City Land us the only land in the Utica shale that can be taken by anyone smart enough grab it, including the I Dora land.