YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) -- The are vacant storefronts throughout downtown Youngstown, and one city councilman says an ordinance may be needed to help get them filled.
At a City Council Community Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting Tuesday afternoon, City spokesperson Andy Resnick announced that there are 226 street-level vacancies downtown.
Councilman Julius Oliver, who was surprised by that number, suggested the city pass an ordinance requiring the owners of all downtown buildings to either lease their buildings or actively advertise that their buildings can be leased.
"What are the owners of the buildings actually doing right now? Are you waiting for a specific type of clientele to come in? A specific development to come in? Like, as we're planning out things, we need