A major renovation project is underway on a vacant commercial plaza in the Idora Park neighborhood.

The project is being welcomed by Youngstown residents who have not seen significant redevelopment there in years.

The project is expected to help end a food and quality of life desert for neighbors who live in the area. Currently there are no grocery stories with fresh produce or restaurants in the area. But working is being done to attract business to the city's Southwest side.

At the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Canfield Road work is underway to transform and bring life back into this vacant 70 year old, 12,000 square foot plaza in the Idora Park neighborhood.

"We've replaced the roof, started to paint it, added lighting, replaced the sidewalks. We will be doing more here of course," said Ian Beniston Executive Director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

There are plans for a restaurant, and retail space in the building, but the most highly anticipated and first business expected to open is a fresh food market in an area that has been a food desert.

Beniston tells WFMJ News once the Glenwood Fresh Market will be the first of it's kind within city limits.

Beniston emphasized, "The focus will be on produce, whether that be greens, apples, bananas, those sorts of things, fresh fruits, vegetables."

Other staples like milk and bread may also be available to buy.

Folks on the south side thank city council and the administration for committing $100,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds to purchase the plaza and YNDC for it's work.

"There were so many nice things around here that's no longer here, so to bring a little fruit of life, that's great!," said Alexis Tellington.

A group is opening a coffee shop across the street from that plaza. One Health Ohio has said it has a  multi-million dollar plan to transform a vacant grocery store, the former Bottom Dollar store, into a community health center. And the city's purchase and closing of a place where adult films were shown, the Foster Theater, on Glenwood Avenue are all part of larger plans to improve the quality of life for neighbors in Youngstown.

YNDC secured around $600,000 in grants for the project. Beniston tells WFMJ News he hopes the project can be completed with grant money.

The first business in the plaza is expected to open doors by April of next year. Equipment and materials are taking longer to receive due to supply chain issues.