Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority Advances Plan To Fund East Liberty Improvements

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Roy

Locator map with the East Liberty neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania highlighted. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority board is pushing ahead with a plan to divert a large portion of real estate and parking tax revenue from a host of projects in or near East Liberty to help fund road, pedestrian and other improvements in the area.

Board members will vote Thursday on a proposal to create an East Liberty Transit Revitalization Investment District in which 75 percent of the new real estate and parking tax revenue generated by development within half a mile of the East Liberty stop on the East Busway would be used for infrastructure improvements.

Also Thursday, the board is expected to vote on $500,000 in loans to help clear the way for Fifth Avenue Pub and Lofts, a proposed restaurant and apartment development across the street from Consol Energy Center. It would mark the first major private development to take place in that area since the arena opened in 2010.

The transit revitalization investment district in some ways works like a tax increment financing district, only it typically involves a broader area and is utilized for a host of projects, not just one.

Tionesta Market Village Plan Unveiled

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Roy

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Forest County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tionesta’s long-vacant downtown will be given a jump-start this spring with the creation of the Tionesta Market Village. The Forest County IDA and IDC have partnered up and completed plans to establish this addition to the main street on the southern of the two IDA-owned lots, now known as the “Gazebo Lot”. This site will become the home of several custom-built small scale retail buildings designed to look like 1800s store fronts, fronted by a wide walkway for shoppers and offering a variety of small retail establishments.

While the IDA owns the property, the IDC is funding this project and is now searching for new start-ups or small home-based businesses looking to move into a small retail space. This is an attempt to fill two needs: providing small, high-visibility retail space to small businesses and making use of the vacant property until a permanent development is established.

“Over the past couple of years there have been several individuals that have expressed an interest in starting a small business in downtown Tionesta.” says Dick Johnson, owner of Forest Hardware in Tionesta and Vice President of the Forest County IDC. “Two of the biggest drawbacks are the lack of available space and the cost of building new.” He hopes that the Market Village will give those people an “economically feasible way to get their new ventures up and running.”

IDC president, Farley Wright, says “The project is a unique, low-risk, high potential reward grass roots effort to increase the attraction and traffic to the community. It’s an opportunity, without relying on governmental funding, to assist local folks as well as benefit our community.” In answer to why this type of use for the property, he adds “Sometimes you can’t wait for others to provide the solutions; and while there may be detractors (nay-sayers) to the project, I know of no one that has presented a better idea. We can support the effort and contribute to its success, or we can deride it and it may fail…….but at least we are doing something.”

More Than 89 Acres Sold At Berks Park 78

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Roy

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Berks County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Reno, Nev.-based real estate development company has purchased 89.22 acres in Berks Park 78 for $7.5 million, the Berks County Industrial Development Authority announced Tuesday.

Gene Preston, partner for the eastern region with Dermody Properties, said the company does not have a prospective tenant for Berks Park 78.

“That’s not atypical for us,” he said. “We are investors in real estate. We like to buy good land sites. This is an outstanding site, we are going to aggressively market the site and we feel fairly confident.”

Pennsylvania and the Berks Park location, in particular, provides strategic infrastructure to be able to move goods to the population base in the northeastern part of the country, Preston explained.

Wynn Project Could Shake Up Philadelphia Waterfront

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Roy

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Where North Beach Street twists and turns into Richmond Avenue in Fishtown, the old William Cramp & Sons shipyard has been the envy of developers and dreamers alike.

It’s 60 open acres of Delaware River waterfront, a vast blank canvas.

And the man with all the paintbrushes is Las Vegas resort-and-casino developer Steve Wynn.

Two weeks ago, Wynn finally released his plan for developing the site. Local reaction has run hot and cold.

Everyone agrees that the Wynn project could be a game-changer for the waterfront, finally giving purpose to land that has been idle since after World War II.

New Market District Brand Unveiled Iin Downtown York

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Roy

Elsie Smith has only called York home for a few years. But her short time here has been filled and fulfilled with the energy of downtown York.

Smith’s design was chosen by Downtown Inc as the new brand image of the Market District of downtown York.

After years of driving through York on her motorcycle, Smith was attracted to retire here by the architecture, industrial art focus and growing energy, she said.

Smith wanted to be in the middle of it all, so she bought a home on Market Street.

60 Projects Outlined By Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Roy

Several major developments in the Golden Triangle will get started or completed this year — part of a group of 60 projects in the pipeline totaling an estimated $2.2 billion in investment, according to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.

Among the developments to get started this year is the Gardens at Market Square, a $95 million hotel, office and retail project to be built on Forbes Avenue near Market Square. Lucas Piatt, president and chief operating officer of Millcraft Investments, the developer, told those gathered for the PDP’s annual meeting this morning that Millcraft plans to break ground on the project in June.

The Gardens will feature 125,000 square feet of office space, 20,000 square feet of retail, a 335-car parking garage, and a 197-room Hilton Garden Inn. Burgatory, a hamburger haven, and Jackson’s Social Bar and Restaurant already have signed on as tenants, Mr. Piatt said.

Allentown’s Seventh Street Is Experiencing A Quiet Rebirth

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Roy

English: City of Allentown from east side (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Winston Barnes sits at a table overlooking Seventh Street, the harmonious smell of cinnamon, scallions and allspice enveloping his Jamaican restaurant.

On this winter night, when other city restaurants are deserted, customers will go to Winston’s for its signature hot jerk chicken, curry goat and other savory Caribbean favorites — a sign of the subtle renaissance that is taking place on what was once one of Allentown‘s most problematic streets.

A cold blast of air floods the store as two customers emerge from the night, bundled in jackets.

“Hey! How you doing, man?” Barnes says loudly, his tired eyes coming to life as he recognizes the federal workers who stand before him.

Philadelphia’a Tioga Seection Sees A Turnaround As New Businesses Move Into Old Factory Sites

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Roy

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Philadelphia County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

VERNA TYNER was 10 when her family moved to Venango Street in Tioga 40 years ago.

“I thought I’d died and gone to heaven,” Tyner said of her new home. “It was just a gorgeous, beautiful neighborhood. The lawns were manicured. The trees were trimmed.”

But as Tyner grew up, the neighborhood fell down.

Dozens of factories that dotted Tioga, Nicetown and Allegheny West began closing, putting thousands of people out of work.

Among them: the Budd Co., which made railcars and later automobile doors; Tasty Baking Co., maker of Tastykakes; and the Stanley Blacker suit factory.

Easton Inks First Lease For Proposed Intermodal Project

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Roy

English: Skyline of Easton, PA from Lafayette College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At least one tenant for Easton’s proposed intermodal center is signed for what passes for perpetuity these days — 99 years.

City Council approved a master lease Wednesday night for the yet-to-be-built intermodal, inking the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority to a long-term deal in return for an upfront payment of $7.2 million. The lease with LANTA is through the city’s parking authority, which in turn will operate the 370-space parking deck and bus terminal portion of the project.

LANTA’s cash payment, derived from a federal transportation grant, is a major source of funding for the $26 million intermodal. Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. hopes to couple the LANTA money with grants obtained by the city to cut the amount the city must borrow to no more than $13 million.

Site work for the project started last year after the city demolished a Perkins restaurant and a movie theater on S. Third St. Construction could begin this summer.

Developer To Buy Former Harley-Davidson West Campus In York County

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Roy

A developer has signed a sales agreement for Harley-Davidson‘s 58-acre west campus.

Earlier this month, the York County Industrial Development Authority approved the deal with Hillwood Development Company, a Texas-based venture chaired by Ross Perot Jr., the son of former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot.

“The IDA’s goal is to have jobs on that site and employment,” said Blanda Nace, senior manager of development for the York County Economic Alliance and project manager for the authority. “We aren’t real thrilled about it being a parking lot or a storage area. We want real jobs created there. Hillwood recognizes that. They have the same goals in mind … that’s part of the reason why they were selected.”

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