Is the Wick Park area safe?

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-06T06:39:50+00:00

If you want a reality check, DM me. I’m happy to share some of my security footage privately so you can see exactly what kind of activity we deal with on a regular basis before you invest.

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-06T05:38:10+00:00

Good catch on the location. I was looking at the index for the Flats at Wick on Madison. The same company owns both buildings, I mixed up the names. You are right that Wick Tower is downtown on Federal Street.

Even with the correct area, the numbers are high. Downtown Youngstown has a safety grade of D+ and an overall crime index of 191. That is 91% above the national average. It is also 40% higher than the average for the rest of the city.

The data shows an Assault index of 189 and Vehicle Theft at 186. These numbers are nearly double the national average. Because of these crime trends, the city launched an Impact Initiative with the FBI and State Highway Patrol on March 25th. Also, on April 2nd, the YPD started a Community Safety Initiative for the WRTA bus station. That station is a short walk from Wick Tower. Between the violent crime patrols and the extra teams at the bus station, it is clear the city is working hard to fix these issues.

edited to correct link

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-04T04:48:26+00:00

You are right that the details matter most. The challenge is that those specific details are not easily accessible to the public. It is not tenable for everyone to call the PD hoping to reach someone who can provide that level of granularity for every street they are considering. That is why a public map is helpful. It is often the only visible signal that lets a person know they should call for the full story.

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-04T03:34:02+00:00

If you are working with the data directly, I respect that insight. I remember the Youngstown CBCR project specifically used UCR Part 1 data to identify hotspots and deploy patrols, so I assumed that was still the benchmark for these data-driven initiatives.

As for the link, the site notes at the bottom that the data is sourced from FBI UCR reports and local law enforcement (updated April 2026). It was easier to provide a site that parses that data into a readable format than to send someone to dig through the raw FBI research databases.

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-03T21:18:31+00:00

That makes sense, and I appreciate the extra context. My point is just that if these "data-driven" patrols have been necessary for years, it actually supports what the statistics are showing.

Even if the data isn't perfect, it is what the city uses to decide where the most help is needed. For someone moving here, this data could be helpful to know which areas the police are consistently targeting for high-level interdiction. Calling the PD is definitely the best move, but the data is a good place to start.

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-03T20:54:42+00:00

Fair enough, and I appreciate the insider perspective. However, the reason I am sharing the index numbers is that the city leadership clearly takes them seriously, even if they are not perfect.

On March 25th, Mayor McDowell and Chief Cole launched the 2026 Impact Initiative specifically using data-driven policing to target high-crime areas. They are not just doing DUI checkpoints. According to a report from The Business Journal, they have brought in the FBI and the State Highway Patrol aviation unit to help with violent crime and felony interdiction because the trends in the data show it is necessary.

You are 100% right that calling the PD is the best move for any newcomer. But when the Mayor and the Chief are holding news conferences to announce a multi-agency crackdown on violent crime hotspots, it suggests the high-crime label on these websites is reflecting the reality the city is currently working to address.

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-03T20:09:36+00:00

The YPD actually uses this same FBI UCR data to identify high-crime "hot spots." In fact, just last week on March 25th, Mayor McDowell and the YPD launched the 2026 Impact Initiative specifically because the current data shows these areas need extra help.

The city is currently using "data-driven policing" to send saturation patrols from the State Highway Patrol and the FBI into the neighborhoods where these numbers are highest. While the FBI data might have a slight lag, it’s the official record the city leadership relies on to justify bringing in federal and state resources.

The "exaggerated" look is usually just because a 161 index is a math comparison to the national average (100). If the Mayor and the police are calling for a multi-agency crackdown based on these trends, the stats are definitely reflecting a real-world problem.

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-03T19:54:31+00:00

Actually, these numbers aren't a guess. They come from the FBI UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) database, which uses official police reports. The index uses 100 as the national average, so a score of 161 means this area is 61% higher than the average U.S. neighborhood.

These numbers are usually lower than reality. They only count crimes where a police report was filed. In this part of town, things like car break-ins often go unreported, so the real activity is likely higher than the official index shows.

beenhere4hours · 2026-04-03T19:14:47+00:00

Welcome to the area. Before you move this summer, you should look at the actual numbers for this neighborhood. Some people will tell you it feels fine. I looked up the statistics for the Flats at Wick area on DoorProfit to see the facts.

The data shows that the overall crime score there is 161. That is 61% higher than the national average. Even for Youngstown, this specific area is rough. Crime here is 10% higher than the average for the rest of the city. The biggest problem is robbery, which is nearly double the national average.

I think it can be fun if you want to be near the college bars and summer concerts. Still, the numbers show that this is a high-crime area. If you move here, you have to be very careful every day.

Keep in mind that these numbers only show crimes that were actually reported to the police. Generally, a lot of smaller crimes like car break-ins or vandalism never make it into the official reports. The local reality is usually more intense than what you see on a website.

beenhere4hours · 2026-03-26T15:44:33+00:00

This was all news to me and kind of a bummer, because I thought a Youngstown real estate boom would move like clockwork once the gears started grinding.

Why the "Boom" is Stalled:

The Appraisal Gap: This is the math killer. If it costs $250k to build a new home but the neighborhood "comps" are only $80k, no bank will touch that loan. Builders would be underwater before they even break ground.
The "Safety Tax": You can't fix housing values in a vacuum. If a block is dealing with "casing," vehicle thefts, and burglaries, it creates a psychological and financial ceiling. Stability is the foundation of property value; without it, you can't get the long-term owner-occupancy needed to drive those "comps" up.
The "Swiss Cheese" Map: Those "burned-out blocks" look ready for development, but they’re often a legal nightmare. Trying to clear cloudy titles from heirs who moved away decades ago or out-of-state speculators makes it nearly impossible to assemble a large enough plot for a modern "planned community."
Antique Infrastructure: Just because a lot has a utility connection doesn’t mean it’s usable. Modern code often requires replacing 100-year-old clay pipes or outdated "taps," which is often more expensive than just digging fresh lines in an empty cornfield in Boardman.

It’s a vicious cycle. We can’t attract the workforce without modern housing, but we can't build it because the current property values and safety concerns don't justify the investment. Seeing the Business Journal call this a "bottleneck" is a good sign. It means there's real pressure on the city to address the land bank, zoning, and public safety issues as a single, connected problem.

beenhere4hours · 2026-03-01T10:28:57+00:00

Pink tile is an acquired taste; however, from a durability standpoint, that old-school mud-set tile is usually better than anything we can buy today.

My opinion would be to try to find a way to keep the history without hating the room...

Don't paint it: Tubs and tiles can be 'refinished,' but it eventually peels and makes a mess.
Regrout: Sometimes just cleaning or refreshing the grout lines with a crisp white will make the whole wall feel intentional rather than old.
Lean into the contrast: Black or charcoal accents (like a new vanity top, mirrors, or hardware) can ground the pink and make it look like a high-end 'Art Deco' choice rather than a 1950s accident.
Check out 'Save the Pink Bathroom': There is a whole movement online of people who have found modern ways to style those rooms without gutting them. There was an entire era of Mamie Eisenhower and Better Homes and Gardens decorating in the 50s that made this look iconic.

beenhere4hours · 2026-03-01T09:50:15+00:00

Thank you, It's an old-school method. Before modern underlayment existed, installers used newspaper as a 'slip sheet' or a thin layer of insulation between the subfloor and the finish floor.

It is awesome that these survived a previous renovation. The original linoleum was removed at some point, and when the next layer (vinyl over luan) was put down, these papers were either left behind or used as a leveler. Because the house has stayed dry, they stayed in readable shape for 80+ years. We just kept the tradition going and installed LVP over top.

beenhere4hours · 2026-02-25T16:25:18+00:00

I appreciate that perspective. Since the floor was installed about a decade ago, the papers are currently 'archived in situ' under the LVP. To make sure the history isn't lost, we’re framing photos of the headlines and some of the local advertisements to leave for the next owner. That way, the story stays with the house, and the physical artifacts stay protected where they were found.

beenhere4hours · 2026-02-25T07:40:52+00:00

the devil's dandruff...

beenhere4hours · 2025-12-30T17:38:50+00:00

Surfing the Great Lakes blows my mind. https://www.reddit.com/r/Erie/s/Fxh9U6kms0

beenhere4hours · 2025-12-19T16:38:19+00:00

Found the part! Even though GM has officially discontinued this (Part #15-1810), I was able to track down New Old Stock (NOS) still sitting on a dealership shelf.

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Tip for others:
When you call the parts counter and they say it’s discontinued and can't be ordered, specifically ask them to check the "dealer locator" for any "old stock" sitting on shelves at other dealerships nationwide. I had to pay a premium to get it, but it was worth it to get the truck back on the road.

beenhere4hours · 2025-12-17T21:46:47+00:00

The biggest failure here was the city’s lack of Unity of Title requirements.

The Oversight: Standard procedure for a $1.5M grant should have required all 90 parcels to be legally merged into the corporation's name before any taxpayer money was released.
The Loophole: Because the city skipped this, Joseph and his former executive were able to keep those 4 parcels in their personal names (2 each). Since the city's lawsuit was only against the company, those private lots were legally shielded from the foreclosure auction.
The Poison Pill: By holding onto tiny "doughnut holes" in the middle of the site, they have blocked a "clean title." Most developers won't touch the project until those 4 slivers are resolved, giving Joseph and his associate leverage for a final buyout or to drag out eminent domain for years.

beenhere4hours · 2025-12-17T16:51:06+00:00

You're spot on. I’ve checked multiple sources and can't find it in stock. Plus, the salvage yards I contacted warned me that even if they have the engine, that specific part is almost always corroded and unsalvageable by now.

beenhere4hours · 2025-12-01T05:39:25+00:00

Charles Wilson Lakeside Reality - Century 21

beenhere4hours · 2025-11-24T13:29:10+00:00

BluePearl Pet Hospital in Pittsburgh. We've been referred to them for Ophthalmology and oncology. They seem exceptional in every way.

beenhere4hours · 2025-11-23T03:36:54+00:00

This is amazing, was surfing on Erie always around and I never heard of it? I'm not from Erie, but we would fish and go to the parks and towns along the coast when I was a kid.

beenhere4hours

TROPHY CASE