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Chicago Firm Plans to Repurpose and Redevelop Unused Park Land in Youngstown

Fresh Coast Capital works to revitalize post-industrial communities, like Youngstown, by finding new green uses for vacant land.
FRESH COAST CAPITAL
Fresh Coast Capital works to revitalize post-industrial communities, like Youngstown, by finding new green uses for vacant land.
Fresh Coast Capital works to revitalize post-industrial communities, like Youngstown, by finding new green uses for vacant land.
Credit FRESH COAST CAPITAL
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FRESH COAST CAPITAL
Fresh Coast Capital works to revitalize post-industrial communities, like Youngstown, by finding new green uses for vacant land.

 The city of Youngstown is partnering withFresh Coast Capitalof Chicago to redevelop andrepurposesome of the city’s vacant land.

Fresh Coast Capital plans to lease 29 acres in four unused Youngstown city parks to grow flowers and trees for harvest and sale.

In lieu of monetary payments, Fresh Coast Capital will be solely responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the land it uses.

Youngstown Parks Director Bob Burke says the new 30-year partnership will help the city save thousands of dollars annually.

“At $15 an hour and some change, [our] labor cost will go down and we can use those monies in other areas of the park department.”

Fresh Coast Capital is splitting its $1 million investment with five other Midwest cities including St. Louis, Mo., Elkhart, Ind., and Flint, Mich. The firm will begin planting in Youngstown by mid-April.

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Michael Bratton is a second-year student in Kent State's graduate program for public relations.