Revitalization. Redevelopment. Renovation. Three R’s that all point to a new beginning for the Market Street and Midlothian Boulevard area with construction of a new branch library.

After several years of planning, the Library began in late November construction on a $3.6 million branch that will bring new life into the area designated as a key component of the Youngstown 2010 land-use plan. Bids for this new branch came in approximately $702,000 under the original published amount of $4.3 million. The branch is expected to be complete in 10 to 12 months.

The system’s newest library will be known as the Newport Branch Library, recognizing the neighborhood named in the “Youngstown 2010 Plan” and honoring the history and tradition of the area, which extends back to 1929. The library will replace a branch located near Eagle Heights Academy (the former South High School).

“The start of construction on this library may seem like it’s been a long time coming for people who have seen the outdoor sign announcing the project for the past 20 months. But what they don’t know is that we have actually been preparing for this for over four years,” said Carlton A. Sears, Library director.

“The project began in 2003 with a study of urban area library branches. This study was then merged in 2004 into the Library 2011 countywide strategic plan. The plan provides a clear direction for the library system to come to grips with the reality of how Youngstown and Mahoning County have changed since the early 1900s when many of our libraries were originally developed.

“When the Newport Branch Library is finished about a year from now, it will be one of the most exciting – if not the most exciting – in the county,” Sears said.

Dr. David Ritchie, president of the Library’s Board of Trustees, said it was the board’s vision to create a state-of-the-art urban branch library that will be an essential element in the community, bringing people together from all parts of the county for library materials, programs and services.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams expressed his support of the Library’s project as important to the city and the “Youngstown 2010 Plan.”
New branch carries on tradition – The branch will be called the Newport Branch Library, in recognition of the history and tradition of the Newport neighborhood, which became part of the city in 1929 and is represented in the Youngstown 2010 land-use plan.

“Newport grew as a neighborhood of mixed working-class and upper middle-class origins. Sandwiched between Boardman’s exclusive Newport Glen and the working-class Warren neighborhood, the Newport neighborhood exhibited traits of both,” according to “A Citizen’s Guide to Youngstown,” published by the League of Women Voters, Youngstown 2010 and Youngstown State University. “Lake Newport, the third lake created by damming Mill Creek, was finished in 1928 and named for Mary Newport, great aunt of Ms. Alice Baldwin Lewis, a woman who gave acreage to the park,” noted the “Citizen’s Guide.”

The “Youngstown 2010 Plan” uses the designation, “Newport Neighborhood,” to identify the area in which this library is located. This fact, coupled with the historic significance of the Newport area, were important factors in the Library’s choice of the “Newport” name for its newest branch.

“We are pleased to be able to incorporate a bit of the area’s history and tradition into the naming of this new branch, while also supporting Youngstown 2010,” Sears said.
About the new branch – Community input played a big part in the planning of the new branch. “We held several meetings to gather community suggestions and comments – and we took the input seriously,” Sears said. “Along with adults, we enlisted teens to give their input at a design meeting held specifically for them, so that teens will be attracted to the area designed for them and feel comfortable in using their library.”

Walls of glass and rooftop monitors will allow natural light to permeate the building’s interior. And when lit up at night, the light will create the feel of a beacon that can be seen from a distance. The roof of the library can be seen from as far away as the corner of Market Street and Route 224.

Even though this is an urban library, one priority was to create green space, rather than a sea of asphalt, in the parking area. “We are conscious of our role in revitalizing this important corner. One of our goals is to create a green space with trees and landscaped islands for an almost park-like feel,” Sears said.

The Newport Branch will include a Chapters Café with seating area, two meeting rooms, a children’s area, teen area, computers with the latest technology and Internet access, audio/visual materials and more.

Unique to this library will be an Early Literacy area, which will complement the Baby Brilliant program. “Studies have shown how important certain pre-literacy skills are when working with babies from birth to 3 years of age. Our Baby Brilliant programs help babies learn pre-literacy skills and demonstrate techniques to parents, teachers and caregivers to help babies become successful readers,” Sears said. “In this new branch, we have an opportunity to design a special area with books, toys and furnishings that can be used by families to bring Baby Brilliant to life.

We are excited about this new area and the seeds for this idea came from input at our community meetings.”
Some 15,000 square feet will be devoted to library space. The remaining areas of the building will house back-office operations such as library material processing and delivery.

The library’s design is a collaborative effort of Ronald Cornell Faniro, Architects, AIA Inc., of Youngstown, and their library design consultant, Meehan Architects of Cleveland. The general trades contractor is the Murphy Contracting Co.

“This building will undergo a dramatic change both externally and internally to prepare the structure for the new use. It will literally be taken apart and put back together to suit the Library’s needs, create a new image for the facility and define this corner as a gateway to the re-emerging city,” Faniro said.

In 2006, the Library purchased the 24,500-square-foot structure at 3730 Market St. from Giant Eagle. The property, valued at $350,000, was made available to the Library for the sum of $225,000, with Giant Eagle making a charitable contribution of the additional $125,000 toward that purchase.

The current South Library, 1771 Market St., will remain open until the new library is ready. This branch was built in 1929 and remodeled in 1972. The building has 6,450 square feet that is usable for library service and the structure is in need of repair. The declining population in the area surrounding the current location has led to a drop in usage at that branch.

For more information and images of the project, go to www.libraryvisit.org.

Humility of Mary bans
use of tobacco products

Humility of Mary Health Partners has banned smoking and the use of tobacco products at its facilities. Effective Jan. 1, employees cannot smoke on paid work time. In addition, there is no smoking or use of smokeless tobacco products on any property owned, operated or maintained by Humility of Mary Health Partners. This would include sidewalks, driveways and parking lots surrounding all facilities. HMHP includes St. Elizabeth Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center, St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center, HM Home Health Services, Humility House, The Assumption Village, Hospice of the Valley and Laurel Lake Retirement Community.

Beautitude House hires
development assistant

Beatitude House, a local nonprofit organization that creates housing and job opportunities for area homeless women, recently announced the appointment of Michelle Rockwood as its new assistant development director. Rockwood recently spent over a year living and working in Mali, the third poorest country in the world.

Rockwood earned a double major in journalism and political science from Dominican University in River Forest, Ill. in 2004. She interned in the U.S. Senate, worked as a reporter and a real estate agent before joining the U.S. Peace Corps in 2006. Beatitude House has served of 1,500 homeless women and children since 1991. The primary goals of the organization are to create homes, provide education and foster healthy families. Nearly 250 women and over 250 needy children were cared for in 2007. For more information or to donate to the organization, contact Sister Patricia McNicholas, executive director, at 330-744-3147.

St. Rose of Lima to share
space with St. Lucy Parish

St. Rose of Lima Parish, previously located at 50 Struthers-Coitsville Road in Youngstown, recently relocated to 394 Tenney Ave. in Campbell. The parish will share the church with St. Lucy Parish, which was established in 1937 for Italian Catholics in Campbell. St. Rose of Lima was established in 1961 to serve Latino Catholics.

The churches will remain separate parishes, each with its own pastor, deacons, councils, committees, celebrations and cultures, but will share facilities. Rev. Gerald DeLucia is pastor of St. Rose of Lima, and Rev. Msgr. John Ashton is pastor of St. Lucy. The St. Rose of Lima church building is in poor condition, and the leadership of both parishes had been in discussion for several months about the feasibility of sharing facilities. Bishop George V. Murry, S.J., approved the proposal.


©2008 Metro Monthly - Youngstown, Ohio