The pictures above are of  East  High School students painting 4×8 sheets of plywood for the “Blight to Light” project. Once painted, the painted plywood  will be placed on open windows and doors of vacant houses in the S.A.A.N.D. I. area.

Mission Statement:The South Avenue Area Neighborhood Development Initiative Mission is to reclaim a designated area along the South Avenue Corridor and to create sustainable neighborhoods that offers a healthy and higher quality of life through the collaboration of agencies, organizations and residents.

Overview of  S.A.A.N.D.I.

In June of 2009  a small group of individuals  met to discuss the formation of a steering committee to address a twenty seven (27) block area located along the South Ave. corridor  primarily in the northern sector of the Seventh Ward in the City of Youngstown ,Ohio. Those individuals were Ms. Gail Stark,President of South Ave Block Watch,  Mr. Jim Pirko, representing the Mahoning Valley Real Estate Investors Association, Ms. Patti Dougan,President of the Seventh Ward Citizen’s Coalition,Inc. , Mr. Phil Kidd, representing the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collabrative, and John R. Swierz, 7th Ward Council Member( representing that area).  They  knew that this area was the most challenged area in the 7th Ward due to escalating crime,  many vacant houses( due to high foreclosures ), many houses that needed demolished, and  business’ moving out of the South Ave. corridor .  Their goal was to create a Plan of Action, engage the four (4) Block Watches located in the area, business owners, churches , social service agencies and the city schools located in the area. Their hope is to create a Strategic Plan that will be presented to the area stake holders for final approval sometime in the early part of the summer of 2010. Visit other sections of this website to view the partners, updates and other important information about the progress of the S.A.A.N.D.I.  project.