2/12/2007

Learning from Youngstown, OH...

Youngstown, OH is a shrinking city. So is Buffalo, NY.

36 year Mayor Jay Williams, discusses what this means for Youngstown, OH. He was a guest on Smart City over the weekend.
Don't remember hearing an elected City official talking like this, on the record, ever!

Here's a recent post of mine with additional international, national and local links about Shrinking Cities. Play around with this google satellite map of Youngstown and see the urban prairie! Built for 250K people. Current population is 80K...

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Artspace ArchiveAnnals of NeglectBAVPAWhere is Perrysburg?Broken Promises...
Writing the CityWoodlawn Row Housesmy flickr

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

David, great thing you are sticking with this topic!

Buffalo has already accomplished step #1 when it comes to admitting we're a shrinking city: Denial

High time for step 2!

fixBuffalo said...

Really great interview. Williams has an impressive understanding of strategic planning and concepts involving resource allocation and triage.

There's also a moratorium in Youngstown, OH on the construction of new housing!

Anonymous said...

Is that picture of Byron Brown authentic? I've been wondering what he actually does. Now I know.

Anonymous said...

I just listened, this guy is amazing. He makes Byron Brown sound like a complete retard.

Sigh, I guess Buffalo will have to shrink under 100,000 people before anyone here starts to get it :/

fixBuffalo said...

Jefferson,

Thought you were taking a break from the fray...

Gabe,

Got to get this message to a wider audience.

Anonymous said...

thanks for posting the mayor's comments. he noted how important it is to maintain clean entrances into youngstown. no one wants to see piles of debris and trash sitting uncollected.

Anonymous said...

“If I’m thrown out of office in 4 years for being too bold or too innovative, that’s ok…”

Are you listening, Byron?

fixBuffalo said...

Anon,

B-I-N-G-O

Anonymous said...

Why kick back and sit for four years to get the clown out of office? Take votes and remove the bozo.Is that picture of Bozo taken in his office? Yikes!

Anonymous said...

i read something recently about a shrinking cities conference which was held in berkeley, california.
apparently, there is also a shrinking cities study group out of germany which is doing some sort of presentation on detroit.

fixBuffalo said...

bill,

the link about Shrinking Cities contains the information about the program in Detroit.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting the link to the Shrinking Cities group (a perfect show to bring to Hallwalls, no?). And, of course, still thrilled that you changed your mind & continue this blog!

fixBuffalo said...

Mark,

What an excellent idea...thanks!

Yes, it's good to be back...