Building slows in Howland, Cortland

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The two communities have lost population and student enrollment in recent years.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

HOWLAND — The building and population boom once associated with Howland and Cortland has leveled off — at least for now.

Mark Zuppo Jr., Howland planning and zoning director, said construction has been down this year.

In 2005, total new construction in Howland Township was nearly $23 million, compared with nearly $17 million so far this year.

Howland has lost population. In 2000, the township had 17,546 people. The Trumbull County Planning Commission estimated the 2005 census at 17,253, or a 293-person loss.

Cortland has seen a similar pattern. In 1995, the city saw the valuation of new construction at $9.2 million; nearly $7.5 million in 1988; and $7.6 million last year.

It has dipped to nearly $2.3 million so far this year.

School enrollment in the two communities also has decreased.

Howland Superintendent John Rubesich points to a student enrollment that has stabilized over the past 10 years. In 1996, the number of pupils was 3,468. It dropped to 3,342 in 2001 and 3,166 by this year.

Lakeview Superintendent Robert Wilson said the Cortland district has seen a similar enrollment decline — from 2,310 pupils in 1999 to the current 2,172 pupils.

"We haven't been a growing community," Wilson said.

Slower rate

Alan Knapp, county planning commission director, said most Warren-area communities have lost population, but new housing starts continue.

"There are less people moving into more houses," Knapp said.

"We're building but not at the same clip," countered Zuppo.

Knapp pointed to a number of factors supporting residential growth, including an increased divorce rate that puts families in two rather than one house, and couples putting off having children — thus making home ownership more affordable.

Rubesich believes a combination of these factors has led to the enrollment decline.

Overall, the Howland superintendent said, there hasn't been much increase in enrollment throughout Ohio, except for some pockets such as communities around Columbus.

Knapp said communities such as Howland have not outpriced themselves, noting that there are a limited number of people who can afford high-end housing.

If anything, communities such as Howland and Cortland are running out of suitable land on which to build. In some cases, such as in Howland, residential property has been sold to make way for commercial development, Knapp explained.

As a result, he said, new residential development can be seen along the state Route 46 corridor — between Howland and Cortland — in Bazetta Township.

"Bazetta is the place to build," Knapp said.

Cortland Mayor Curt Moll doesn't believe figures that show a decline in new construction in his community show the true picture, however.

Moll contributes the decline this year to the buyouts and retirements at General Motors' Lordstown complex and Delphi Packard Electric Systems. "People are not sure what's going to happen," the mayor said.

Less acreage

The city, Moll explained, has decreasing acreage on which to build in some areas, but it hasn't exhausted available land.

At the same time, Moll isn't worried about fewer housing units' being constructed this year.

Between 1994 and 1998 in Cortland, there were an average of 58 units built annually. The number decreased to an average 38 units from 2000 to 2005 and to 13 so far this year.

Moll's optimism comes from some housing developments in the planning stages.

The city had a population of 6,830 in 2000, but the planning commission estimate for 2005 puts the number of residents at 6,640, or a decline of 190 people.

Moll doubts the estimated decline. He pointed out there have been a number of housing units built while at the same time few vacancies exist in others. This is especially true for senior housing.

Wilson, Lakeview's superintendent, said the economic viability of Delphi has loomed for the past 10 years. Another factor in the district's enrollment decline has been the loss of pupils to charter schools, he said.

So nagging is the problem that the district is considering initiating open enrollment to "reclaim some lost revenue," Wilson explained.

State basic aid revenue follows the pupils into the school district they attend.

Like Moll, Zuppo said that Howland developments in the planning stages will increase the new construction statistics. Besides, he said, new construction seems cyclical with ups and downs over the long haul.

Sunday, December 17, 2006