City Hall Minutes

Monday evening, there was a meeting to discuss next steps in the plans for West Federal Street. Carmen Conglose said the focus was on revisiting the plan, engaging urban planners, seeking more diverse input, address the input from the public August 6 meeting, then bring back to City Council. He estimated 3-4 weeks to redesign and pledged to work with Mill Creek Metroparks experts to select the proper tree species.

Mayor Williams emphasized the desire to examine all options while keeping to the original priorities: green canopy, parking, and infrastructure improvements.

Paul Harkey noted they were asked to design the original plan according to the approach on East Federal Street. (So, note it wasn't about finding the best approach for West Federal, it was assuming the Plaza's approach worked all the way along.) He also noted the city owns the street lights and breakers along West Federal and would likely partner with Ohio Edison once the rework is done, which would give the city a lower rate for the electricity (but would they pay somehow for renting or leasing the lights, or how does that work?).

Some other notes: any redesign would have to fit under the existing budget, which is somewhere in the upper $300s. The money is also tied to the electrical upgrades, though I'm not sure of the specific language.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for September 17. The Mayor spoke with a few of us after the meeting and encouraged us to work with the planning department to provide input into the process.

A friend who works for the City of Warren says the transcripts of city meetings are kept and published to a mailing list for public consumption. Is this true for Youngstown? Are transcripts and video of all meetings taken, and how can they be made available? I noticed two video cameras recording the proceedings as a secretary appeared to commit the record to paper. What happens with these recordings and records? We should let the sunshine in and make the transcripts, if not video recordings, available to the public always.

Good news, Bad news

This article in today's Vindicator contains both good news and bad news.

At the request of Mayor Jay Williams, Carmen S. Conglose Jr., the city's deputy public works director, will meet with city planners, probably on Monday, to discuss the West Federal Street project.

By the end of next week, city officials will present their suggestions for the project to members of city council and interested parties, Williams said. The mayor expects a final plan to be done by the end of the month.

[...]The city originally had wanted to advertise for a contractor for the project next week, but that's been delayed because of the objections, Conglose said.

We'll start with the bad. Carmen Conglose still doesn't see the light:

Conglose said he was surprised to hear complaints from people — as well as a petition opposing the project signed by about 700 — about the plan.

If there's a way to keep or improve the medians while keeping the proposed new green space and the parking spots, Conglose said he wouldn't object to that. But he says he can't see any way for the medians to remain under those conditions.

"The people who complained hadn't seen the project," Conglose said about Monday's meeting. "The whole thing is crazy. My take on the situation is I've been doing capital projects for 31 years. The only thing on Federal Street that's encouraged business growth in recent history is [removing the pedestrian mall and opening up the Plaza to through-traffic]."

But will there be enough pressure from the Mayor and from city planners in general to help him see the light? How much influence does Bill D'Avignon, the Community Development Agency director have?

After hearing from residents and local business officials, D'Avignon said he's inclined to keep the medians and additional downtown parking doesn't appear to be something needed.

But again, from what was revealed at the meeting, the project is fundamentally about the utility lines under the street. So, the city planners still need to realize that the diagonal parking, whatever it might mean to the plaza, isn't right for the West Federal Street. And there's still the possibility that there could be an alternative approach to providing electricity to the lights and buildings along the street.

Tree lovers win: Plan to be revisited

Was this just Angie's impression or the official word, that the plan will indeed be revisited?
Tree lovers win: Plan to be revisited: "Residents, business people and community leaders packed council chambers, issuing near unanimous criticism of the city’s plan."

"After a long public comment period, however, Conglose indicated plans could still be modified."

"Could" is obviously different than will. But great headline, nonetheless.

Catching on

Under the headline "A green downtown is a more inviting downtown", someone I've never met published a letter to the Vindicator today about my favorite cause. This means we're getting the job done!

EDITOR:

As a pastor and resident in the city of Youngstown for more than 20 years, I have been extremely encouraged by the significant efforts at downtown revitalization. People are walking the streets and enjoying being downtown. New businesses seem to be opening weekly. Business people are making investments. Outdoor parties and other outdoor activities are complimenting what goes on in Powers Auditorium the Chevy Centre, the Oakland Theater and many YSU venues.

I was happy to learn recently that the Spring Common bridge is undergoing major renovation. It is one of the gateways to the city and adds to the atmosphere created by its neighbors at Anthony's on the River, the B&O Station and the John Young memorial.

I understand that an informational meeting will be held tomorrow concerning the flower and tree-lined strip on West Federal Street. I understand that plans are to remove this aesthetic part of our downtown in order to pour more concrete and create a few more parking spaces. In my opinion, this will take away a major welcoming component of our downtown.

Our mayor often speaks of making our city 'cleaner and greener' so that those who come to visit or do business in our center city will fell 'welcomed.' Trimming the trees in the median and adjusting the lighting to upward spotlights can enhance a natural gateway and focal point that continues to be a major part of the downtown Streetscape project each spring. This median has matured and developed over the years into a wonderfully colorful part of our compact downtown. It provides a softer contrast to the bricks and mortar of the surrounding buildings.

A few more parking spaces seems to be a poor trade-off.

When we visit other towns and cities (as I'm sure our city leaders often do), what attracts our attention is downtown parks, flowering baskets, strategically placed fountains, gathering places and other amenities.

Keep the median clean and green.

The Rev. EDWARD P. NOGA, Pastor
St. Patrick Church
Youngstown

Response to today's Vindy article on W Fed St

[Edit: 8/8/2007; since this did not get published before the pivotal meeting Monday, I've asked the Vindicator not to print this. Mr. Conglose showed courage and humility in rescinding some of the items he is quoted in the paper as saying in front of so many during the meeting.]

To: letters@vindy.com
CC: Angie Schmitt
Subject: Urgent letter: W Fed St Plans response

In Saturday's "City's plans protested" (http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/305526637206329.php), public works deputy director Carmen Conglose claims that parties opposing the plans to turn the scenic boulevard of West Federal Street into a parking lot are operating from outdated information. This is just one of several fallacies in his claims.

When CityScape was asked to approve the latest plans, they specifically requested that the public be brought into the process before the plans were finalized. This is only happening now, mere days before the project goes to bid. Therefore, a substantial group of citizens, activists, bloggers and West Federal Street business owners (and over 350 signed petitioners) have been urgently getting the word out so people can let the city know that we want to preserve the beautiful median landscaping, which has been lovingly cared for by volunteers on a regular basis.

The city's current plans for reconstructing West Federal Street are inconsistent with current leading thoughts on city planning and architecture. Dr. Kathleen Wolf of the University of Washington has published research showing that consumer spending on shopping and entertainment activities are significantly higher in areas with trees than without. Additionally, the size and maturity of tree cover on different roads was found to make an impact on the responses of consumers.

Mr. Conglose's statement that there would be "more green area in this plan than currently exists" is simply incredible. First, the city would have to replace mature shade trees with saplings that would take little less than a generation to reach maturity. Any suggestion that replacing more than a dozen trees lining the center of this scenic boulevard with asphalt and brick would create more green is absurd.

The city claims to add 24 parking spaces. This is a convenient exaggeration. There are currently sixty parking stalls. The new plan shows seventy-two, nine of which are handicapped-only. The increase is therefore only three generally accessible spaces and nine handicapped. In his statement, Mr. Conglose has discounted the thirteen existing 30-minute loading stalls. If truly concerned for ample parking, the city could surely find a way to convert them to regular parking. The city needs to take a long-term look at parking needs.

As the downtown's revitalization continues to snowball, we'll need well-placed decks and/or garages, with adequate signage directing cars to them. And as visitors and residents walk from these spaces to their shopping destinations or apartments and condos, they will become familiar with the storefronts that line scenic West Federal and other streets, and their list of shopping destinations will expand. This can't happen if they pull up directly in front of a business then drive away after.

As for the desires of the business owners on West Federal Street, I have spoken with Jim Cossler of the YBI. Though he stresses the YBI has not taken an official position, he and those with whom he has spoken, including Mike Garvey of M7 Technologies, who's planning to move part of his business and jobs to and invest millions of dollars in the downtown in the next two years, "think the project is absolutely a huge waste of money with no return on investment".

Tyler S. Clark
(...) Fifth Ave
Youngstown, OH 44504
(phone)
http://ytownrenaissance.blogspot.com

Louie Free

Thanks so much to Louie Free for his generous time today. I appreciate the opportunity to speak about the West Federal Street issue and the renaissance happening in Youngstown right now. Don't forget to sign the petition, please. And show up Monday at 3pm at City Hall to urge reconsideration of the current plans for deconstructing West Federal Street!

W Federal Street petition

Please sign the petition against the West Federal Street plans here:
http://petitiononline.com/wfed07

More West Federal Street News: Aug 6 Meeting

The CIC requested the city to hold a meeting to provide details on the West Federal Street deconstruction. The meeting will be held Monday, August 6, 2007, 3:00 pm, at City Council Chambers, 6th Floor, City Hall, 26 S. Phelps St. The CIC requests courtesy of RSVP by Wednesday, August 1 to Lynn at 330-779-0602.

Please plan to be there and come prepared to question the wisdom of the ill-conceived parking-lot approach to revitalizing the historic downtown. Take a look at this business plan from Columbus:

Planners and downtown advocates nationwide now see the advantages of balancing the need for efficient vehicular circulation with the need to make the Downtown environment friendlier for pedestrians, visitors and residents, who are there to enjoy Downtown’s assets rather than speed back to their homes at the end of the day. Streetscape improvements also provide for a more pedestrian-friendly environment Downtown. Potential streetscape treatments include: widening the sidewalks to create a “promenade” and allow for a double allée of trees, seating areas, and a redesign of existing bus stops and shelters.

Sidewalk widening has been used in many downtown revitalization initiatives, including 17th Street in Denver, State Street in Chicago, 3rd Street in Santa Monica and others. The plan proposes these enhancements in a number of areas. Other projects, such as the proposed Broad Street median, are also being considered.

That's right, coveted development elsewhere that already exists in downtown is going to be ripped out. Reminds me of that song about paving paradise to put up a parking lot.

My wife and I went out Saturday night at 10pm to Imbibe and parked right across the street. That doesn't sound like a parking problem to me. And even if we had to park in any of the open lots, we would have only needed to walk a block or two. Show up, be respectful, but speak out and don't be bullied by discussions of parking. To say the least, the plan is inconsistent with current leading thoughts in city planning and architecture.

Breaking News: Federal Street Plans Revealed

Click on the photo at left to view the larger image of the plans. What does it tell us? Well, for one, there's far too much parking. There's no need to intrude to the road or the sidewalk for this. As discussed in the previous post, there's plenty of parking downtown, just show people where to find it. And the trees? Well, the picture makes the most of them, but it's not the beautiful promenade you see today. Trees don't just belong on the very last pseudo-block by the bus station. Trees belong in the median strips all along the road. Plus, just check out the dimensions. If there is going to be diagonal parking, I'm thinking of 18th Street NW in Washington, DC, on restaurant row, there's ample space for people to pull into and out of parking spaces and to drive around them as they're doing it. With the dimensions here, you're inviting accidents... begging for them. Finally, why can't you line up some of the trees on opposite sides, so that pedestrians can cross. For this vibe to work, there have to be regular crosswalks, not just at the curbs. And construct them with brick, so we're enhancing the look and slowing down drivers, drawing their attention simultaneously up, down and across.

W Federal Street Median Plans

Thanks to Sharon Letson of CityScape for her generous time today answering questions about the most recent plans for changes to West Federal Street.

There will be a public meeting on or about August 6 (to be announced) to share the plan with and answer questions to the public. The most recent plan I had seen stripped out all medians and inserted diagonal parking from South Phelps down to Chestnut. A number of individuals, business and organizations, in addition to CityScape, objected to the plan and, to its credit, the city took another look and revised the plan.

The current plan preserves some green space in the street while still adding diagonal parking in other sections. The median space will be raised but not curbed and incorporate bricks with the tree plantings. It also incorporates some plantings and benches in the sidewalk. CityScape feels like the city listened and understood compromise was necessary to accommodate their concerns.

Sharon outlined the following concerns that necessitated concessions:

• The street needed to be resurfaced anyway, and the existing trees don't stand much of a chance of surviving as a result of that process
• The sidewalks are in need of repair in any event
• The infrastructure beneath the street needs attention: electric, water pipes

I'm relieved the medians will not be completely wiped out, though I do like their current look. I'll reserve judgement until seeing the plans, and I hope that will happen soon. My understanding from another source is that the project is going to bid around August 15, so hopefully the plans will be published before then.