State funding to help Youngstown State add 170 parking spaces on west side of campus

Youngstown State University will use $220,000 in state funding to buy .499 acres in the 300 block of Arlington Street near the western border of campus for 170 extra parking spaces.

“YSU is an anchor for the tri-county area,” State Rep. Lauren McNally said. “ With higher education costs rising, many students may skip on-campus housing and commute. This makes parking availability and convenience more important than ever.”

According to the Controlling Board request, the property is being acquired by the Youngstown State University Foundation for the benefit of YSU, with YSU not contributing financially to the purchase or impacting tuition to make the acquisition. It contains two boarding houses and adjoining vacant land in close proximity to several YSU properties, specifically a parking lot. The land will enable YSU to create 170 additional surface parking spaces on the western end of campus, assisting with replacing lost parking deck spaces after demolishing the parking deck along Fifth Avenue. The Controlling Board funds are made possible by the General Assembly in House Bill 687.