MARKETING YOUNGSTOWN HOUSING

[AllanY2525]

I think that among the users of this forum, we already
HAVE the necessary brain-power and resources to create
a web site that would bring my idea to fruition.

I and several others that use this forum are already
web masters - so we all know at least enough to make
a simple, staightforward web site.

I and several others using this forum own a digital camera,
which is another "must have" for such a web site.  The
rest of what we need is folks with the time and a car to
go around and take photos of these available properties,
then talk to the city, county, etc to get all of the
pertinent financial info about them (ie: liens, back
taxes, etc).

The next step is to talk with the city, the North Side
Coalition, etc and gather up ALL of the available
information on how to register a historic property,
how to apply for the various grants and loans that are
out there, etc.

I live in Maryland, but with my project on the Bryson
apartment building beginning very soon, I will be making
more and more frequent trips to and from Youngstown as
the demolition and renovation work commences on the
building.

You folks know how to reach me - my email address is
allany2525@yahoo.com.  I am willing to do what I can to
help you all if you decide (as a group) that you want
to launch such a website.

I worked for America Online for almost 17 years, so I
DO know a little about networking and web sites.


Allan



Allan

[ForumManager]

DUH!
I didn't catch that the DOMAIN was available.

This  website hosts a page called bring your business to Youngstown...which is probably in need of an update as far as links go...haven't had time lately...
what exactly did you have in mind?

here's the link to that page
http://ytownpc.com/come-to-youngstown/
It been online for many years and gets many visitors.
I've had people ask me questions I can't answer and I've referred them to people that can help.

There was a site about several  downtown buildings with incredible rent to own type deals....first year sometimes free. It was the Downtown Revitialzation site which changed to another site...

Jay are you out there?  
refresh my memory on the new site's name?

Brain freeze tonight.

[Janko]

the buyintoyoungstown.com was just a brainstorming kick.  I was just saying email sites exist out there such as that one that people, organizations, or city governments can purchase as a base for Allan's idea.

But while we are discussing the topic, what do we need technically and information wise to make this idea a reality?

Can the people on this list bring together the skilled people and components necessary to make this site?

[ForumManager]

the buyintoyoungstown link didn't work for me ... is is typed correctly?

[Janko]

Allan,

That is a great idea.  

www.buyintoyoungstown.com is available!

I have two questions:

1 - Do city leaders such as the mayoral candidates, planning department, heads of citizen coalitions, treasurer's department, or economic development groups read this site?  This forum seems like a good place to develop ideas, but are these ideas going to the people that may provide the funds and resources to administer this idea in the city?

2 - Are the youngstown2010 working groups active? Or are there other community groups out there that can spearhead this project?  Maybe this could be a project they can work on with the assistance of the government.

[AllanY2525]

The city of Youngstown needs to put up a web site that
exclusively deals with properties that the city now
has control of (ie: foreclosed homes, properties with
water department liens, demolition liens, etc against
them).

The city could use this website to advertise available
properties in Youngstown and make available information
such as:

1) For lots that have existing buildings, a list of what
is needed to bring the buildings up to code and reopen
them for residential and/or commercial use.

2) The amount of taxes, liens, etc against the properties.

3) What financial aid does the property qualify for?
(ie: is it a historic property?  are there tax abatements,
government grants, etc that could be applied for with regard
to the property?  ...etc, etc, etc)


The current format used in the MLS listings (ie: the
nation-wide real estate listing system used by realtors)
does not allow for more detailed information.

If the city offered these properties cheap, and was UP
FRONT AND HONEST about any liens or other legal hurdles
that would have to be tacked to get ownership of these
properties, they would stand a MUCH better chance of
getting investors to "Buy Into Youngstown".

After all, whatever the city might lose by forgiving
liens, back taxes, etc - would be replaced by NEW tax
revenues after the properties are purchased and renovated.

[ForumManager]

I saw a news item yesterday that said that the Youngstown area had the LOWEST HOUSING costs NATIONWIDE.  We should be able to take advantage of this somehow.  I realize after an area becomes popular prices will tend to go up  BUT at this time we could market ourselves to Cleveland, Pittsburgh and even Akron.  I know MANY folks who commute daily to these cities for work.

We could be the low cost "burbs."

I saw an ad online for a house in Elyria the other day
spam in my email) ---it looked to be in a city neighborhood not unlike urban Youngstown, small lot, driveways separated the houses ...the house had 1600 square feet and was going for $225,000.

People in large cities are accustomed to fighting long drives everyday becasue of traffic issues, so commuting for over an hour wuold be no big deal to many.