The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation reported this week that 175 people had made donations totaling $20,000 to help restore a two-story brick former monastery at 1810 Volney Road.

Exterior clean-up is already underway at the site that will become a neighborhood action center. The YNDC says full renovation of the property will begin in the coming months with plans for completion this fall.

Donated to YNDC in late 2019, Emery McKelvey built the home in 1927. It was later used for decades as a Carmelite monastery and worship center led by Father Richard Madden, an organizer, and spiritual leader. He fought to keep the monastery open for the people of Youngstown following the collapse of the local steel industry.

"When we've received these donations, lots of people have sent us letters, and there's literally numerous people who said some of the best memories of their lives are time they spent here. Those are strong statements," said YNDC Executive Director Ian Beniston. "So many people have an attachment to this specific property."

YNDC plans to improve parking and outdoor meeting space, upgrade mechanical systems, and restore the first floor of the property for use as a Neighborhood Action Center to conduct public and group meetings to organize residents to address systemic neighborhood problems and improve neighborhoods. Upstairs at the property will be renovated into three apartments.

Beniston said this project is just a piece of the puzzle and work their organization has completed in the Idora Neighborhood. He said they've restored more than 50 homes, helped other homeowners with their property, and worked alongside the city and county to have problem homes demolished.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation was launched in 2009 in partnership with the City of Youngstown and The Raymond John Wean Foundation to promote reinvestment in neighborhoods throughout the city.

A link to the GoFundMe account may be found here.