From Matt Schwartz

Just wanted to take a quick moment to let everyone know that the DowntownYoungstown.com Media Gallery has been temporarily disabled due to security issues...

Many of you may have attempted to access the site this evening and may have seen the account disabled notice. There was an apparent security breach to the Media Gallery which caused a service interruption. Hence, we disabled the gallery - Don't worry though, a new upgraded version will be back on site within the next few days!

Other sections of the site are also being set to read only (such as the forum) while we determine that they are secure as well. Please bare with us while we go through these necessary site changes.

From the Business Journal

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The meeting of the board of the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. was routine and perfunctory Tuesday as the eight members discussed ongoing projects before recessing to discuss pending litigation.

The board approved spending up to $4,000 to upgrade and update its information technology system. Once in place, the CIC staff should be able to connect to the Regional Chamber’s computer system; the chamber administers the CIC under contract.

“There is no backup system in place and therefore all [CIC] data is at risk,” Reid Dulberger noted. Dulberger is acting CIC president and executive vice president of the chamber.

From the Business Journal

By Dennis LaRue
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – They came. They saw. They returned. But only after writing “Center City Youngstown: A Fresh Perspective.”

After touring the downtown 2˝ days in late July and listening to business, civic and cultural leaders, 15 graduate students in the University of Michigan’s college of architecture and urban planning presented their visions Monday evening of what downtown Youngstown could be.

The possibilities the students presented are just that, possibilities intended to continue discussions of the downtown’s transformation into a more desirable place to reside, work and shop. Indeed, some of their scenarios conflict.

From the Business Journal

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A month after their initial visit, graduate students from the University of Michigan Urban Design Studio will present their recommendations for redeveloping a portion of the downtown at 5 p.m. Monday at a public information meeting in the Community Room of the Chevrolet Centre.

Led by Kit Krankel-McCullough, the students studyimng architecture and planning will provide a fresh view of that area of the downtown downtown bounded by Rayen Avenue, Boardman Street, Central Square and Hazel Street. Their proposal will include guidelines and strategies on how to effect their plans. The group visited Youngstown in late July.

The event is sponsored by the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp., Youngstown State University and city of Youngtown officials. Executives and board members from each entity will attend.