Consultants provided updates on improvements to the Belmont Corridor on Thursday night at the Jewish Community Center in Youngstown.

 Consultants spoke with residents and businesses residing along the corridor with plans for the project.

"I think it's a great step forward into building a better Belmont," Turner said.

Youngstown CityScape Executive Director, Sharon Letson tells 21 News both Milestone Partners and City Architecture presented their plans at the meeting for improvements between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Gypsy Lane, right where county lines cross.

"Having that conversation of what Belmont is to them," explained Turner, "What it is now, and how they envision it in the future. We sat down and worked with and listened to our small business owners about what they want to see and then also with the institutions along Belmont Avenue."

Plans were revealed of where certain upgrades will take place. From Gypsy to Burlington, then Burlington to Emerson, and finally Madison Avenue to Federal Street.

"I think Belmont Avenue is in a perfect place to think about beauty and how that affects our businesses and how that affects our community," said Sharon Letson. 

"We can put up bus shelters and we can put up lightning," explained Anthony Whitfield, Principal and Milestones Partners. "We still have buildings that need a little love. We have some properties that need to be developed."

While solid details aren't yet laid out, the data shows the public wants to focus on street and transit improvements, adding business, parks, public spaces, and storefront improvements.

"Every project has its own unique characteristics," Whitfield said. "The city and the state of conditions are very important in a particular area. We have to look at those items. We can't compare Belmont to any other project. Every project has its own unique problems and how it's addressed by local governments are always very different." 

In May of 2023, 21 News reported on improvements coming to the Trumbull County side of the Belmont Avenue corridor between Liberty Street and the Giant Eagle located at 4700 Belmont Avenue.

Letson tells 21 News the Liberty Township improvements will not be discussed here. It's unknown if these two projects are connected.

"Of course the roadway construction is something everyone wants to see but bringing the beauty back to the neighborhood and that helps instill pride in the neighborhood whether that's economic development or housing, we've heard it all in the conversation," added Turner. 

Councilwoman Turner plans to use a portion of her allocated $2 million dollars in ARP funds for part of the project. The city has also applied for several grants to get the plans moving.

They hope to have a finalized plan by this November.