Getting Back To Main Street: a revitalization Plan for Pennsburg
Download 0.56 Mb. Pdf ko'rish
|
- Bu sahifa navigatsiya:
- Chapter
- Summary of Recommendations
- Prioritization of Projects
- Program Information
- Funding Matrix
|
Both of these components seek to increase the pedestrian traffic in Pennsburg. Incorporating these recommendations will help create greater pedestrian traffic throughout the borough, and could potentially bring traffic from neighboring boroughs as well. The increased pedes- trian traffic would lead to a more lively culture on Main Street and with other areas of the borough as well. Further, increased pedestrian traf- fic can only help current businesses on Main Street, as well as encour- aging the growth of new businesses.
66 66 Chapter 6 : Special Projects Implementation •
•
•
•
•
Chapter
68 Getting Back to Main Street
Introduction
The recommendations described in this plan are all in keeping with the over-arching goal of helping to revitalize Pennsburg Borough, as well as the more specific goals and objectives outlined in chapter two of this plan. To assist the borough in the implementation process, this chap- ter provides a summary list of the recommendations, prioritized for the purposes of implementation, with contact information for potential sources of funding and expertise. It also contains a matrix the purpose of which is to match up projects with those resources for funding and expertise, as well as to provide some projected costs for each of the proposed projects.
The following is a summary of the recommendations within this plan, organized into four general categories: Parks, Business Improvements, Pedestrian Improvements, and Borough Improvements.
• Develop Pennsburg Community Park – Continue to work on a mas- ter plan to better serve the Borough’s needs. The master plan will aid the Borough in developing the park by adding new facilities such as walking paths, a playground area or tot lot, new and im- proved parking facilities, and stormwater BMPs which will reduce the frequency of stormwater problems in the park as well as serve as an educational tool. • Develop Pennsburg Nature Preserve – Install new facilities to create more usability and visibility. The nature preserve could be improved through the addition of both directional and informational signage, as well as additional seating.
• Small Business Assistance Program – Help retain existing busi- nesses and assist those who want to begin new businesses in the Borough. This will be accomplished through education and direct assistance to business owners. • Create a Façade Improvement Program – Improve the visual look and marketability of Pennsburg Borough. A grant or loan program would be the vehicle with which the Borough could seek to improve the facades of businesses along Main Street. • Marketing Plan – Promote businesses and improvements in the Borough to those outside the Borough. 69 A Revitalization Plan for Pennsburg • Rent Subsidy Program – Assist businesses with rent allowing more time for them to become profitable and established. • Sidewalk Dining Ordinance – Allow businesses to serve food out- doors, increasing business and visibility. • Zoning Changes – Creating a more walkable Main Street area. • Marketing Study – Create a guide for Pennsburg’s business commu- nity.
• Economic Development Director – Consider cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and surrounding boroughs to engage the services of an economic development director.
• Continue Streetscape Improvements – Continue the streetscape improvements outlined in the previous revitalization plan. • Create a Volunteer Streetscape Committee – Assist in implement- ing continuing streetscape design improvements. • Add Street Trees – Increase the number of street trees along the Borough’s streets, primarily along Main Street. This could be done by incorporating the TreeVitalize program. • Add Way-Finding Signage – To help both locals and tourists locate important amenities, historic sites, and municipal buildings. • Install Walking Trails – lay out plans for trail system in Pennsburg. • Heritage Trail – Create a list of important sites and link them to- gether, which would help draw attention to both the Borough and its historic resources.
• Create Gateways – Improve the entranceways to the Borough, es- pecially along Rt. 663 by adding improved signage, plantings, and lighting. • Traffic Calming – As lowering the speed limit is not possible, look to promote different methods of traffic calming, such as enforce- ment and education. • Bike Facilities – Installing bicycle facilities at important points in the Borough.
70 Getting Back to Main Street • Historic Sites Inventory – Creating inventory of important historic sites would further inform the borough as to its historic resources.
While they are all targeted to assist the borough with the goals and ob- jectives described in Chapter 2, some recommendations should be pri- oritized more highly than others. This is either because the potential impact on the borough is stronger, because the project is already on- going, or because the opportunity will cease to exist after a certain pe- riod of time. The following are ordered first priority (the most immedi- ate) through third priority.
- These items are of a more immediate nature and are essential to the Borough’s revitalization efforts. Their completion will show progress to the community as well as set the stage for items further down the list. This category also continues projects that have already begun. • Develop Pennsburg Community Park • Institute Marketing Study • Enact Sidewalk Dining Ordinance • Create Façade Improvement Program • Install Bike Facilities • Add Street Trees • Continue Streetscape Improvements Medium Priority – These items are of a secondary importance. They will build upon projects from the First Priority list. • Create Marketing Plan • Develop Heritage and/or Walking Trail • Create Gateways • Add Way-Finding Signage • Develop Pennsburg Nature Preserve • Historic Sites Inventory
71 A Revitalization Plan for Pennsburg • Further Zoning Changes • Create Volunteer Streetscape Committee
• Economic Development Director • Rent Subsidy Program • Traffic Calming • Small Business Assistance Program
Program Information
The below information is intended to assist the Borough with imple- menting the various projects proposed in this plan. The contact infor- mation is up to date as of this writing.
Montgomery County Revitalization Program Contact: Brian O’Leary, Section Chief of County Planning, 610-278- 3728
Website: planning.montcopa.org/planning/cwp/view,a,3,q,1737.asp Program Goals: Strengthen and stabilize older boroughs and townships in Montgomery County.
Community Revitalization Program Contact: PA Department of Community and Economic Development Customer Service Center, 1-866-466-3972 Website: www.newpa.com/programDetail.aspx?id=72 Program Goals: To create and/or retain jobs, utilize vacant properties, and spur additional development.
Figure 7.3. A façade improvement program can also help restore the historic character of the main street to the Borough. 72 Getting Back to Main Street Elm Street Program Contact: PA Department of Community and Economic Development Customer Service Center at 1-800-379-7448 Website: http://www.newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/funding- and-program-finder/funding-detail/index.aspx?progId=74
Program Goals: To protect and enhance residential neighborhoods ad- jacent to revitalizing downtowns.
Main Street Program Contact: PA Department of Community and Economic Development Customer Service Center, 1-866-466-3972 Website: http://www.newpa.com/find-and-apply-for-funding/funding- and-program-finder/funding-detail/index.aspx?progId=79
Program Goals: Provide grants to municipalities to hire a main street manager, perform planning studies, historic preservation, downtown façade improvement programs, streetscape improvements, and busi- ness recruitment and retention.
Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative Contact: 1-800-635-4747 Website: www.phfa.org/forms/hcp/NRI.pdf Program Goals: Provide grants to support and encourage neighbor- hood and community revitalization efforts through the development and renovation of existing structures and construction of new infill develop- ment.
PHMC - Certified Local Government Grant Program Contact: 1-800-201-3231 Website: www.artsnet.org/phmc/grants_certified_local_govern.htm Program Goals: Historic preservation and enhancement.
Urban Development Program Contact: PA Department of Community and Economic Development Customer Service Center, 1-866-466-3972 Website: www.newpa.com/programDetail.aspx?id=81 Program Goals: Grants for marketing, workforce training, site prepara- tion, public safety, and building renovation.
73 A Revitalization Plan for Pennsburg Figure 7.5. Improving the walkability as well as the ability to use a bicycle in the Borough are central components of this plan. First Industries Fund - Tourism Contact: 717-787-7120 (Planning Grants); 717-783-5046 (Loans); 717-783-1109 (Loan Guarantee) Website: www.newpa.com/programDetail.aspx?id=47 Program Goals: Provides planning grants and low interest loans to pro- mote tourism and agriculture.
TreeVitalize Contact: Patrice Carroll, Project Director, 215-988-8874 Website: www.treevitalize.net Program Goals: To increase tree coverage in southeast Pennsylvania.
PECO Green Regions Contact: Elizabeth Robb, Administrator, 610-353-5587 Website: www.natlands.org/categories/article.asp?fldArticleID=113 Program Goals: Provide grants to assist with open space plans, habitat improvement, and improvements to passive recreation space. The funding matrix included on the following pages should assist the Borough in locating both funding and assistance for the projects listed in this plan. The matrix is organized with the recommendations along the top of the matrix (horizontally) and the applicable programs on the side (vertically). Programs from all levels of government as well as private programs were considered for inclusion in the matrix. Only programs that offer available funding for and or assistance relating to the recom- mendations of this plan have been included in the matrix.
It should be noted that some of these programs may have their own specific requirements and timeframe for inclusion.
Potential funding sources are marked with an “X’. For example, as dis- cussed earlier in this plan, TreeVitalize is a source of funding for adding trees to the Borough’s streets. Underneath “Add Street Trees”, there are marks next to three funding sources, including TreeVitalize. Con- tact information is available earlier in this chapter. 74 Getting Back to Main Street Title
Project Location Priority Ranking
Project Description Time Frame
Cost Estimate Potential Sources For Funding, Information, and Expertise Potential Partners
Throughout Borough, as specified in Chapter 4 high
Installing bicycle facili- ties, most importantly bike racks, at impor- tant points in the Bor- ough Short to Mid Term (0-6 Years)
$4,000 (4 bike racks at $1,000 per rack)
Montgomery County Revitalization Program Lead: Local Property and Business Own- ers, Borough Planning Commission Commission A Marketing Study n/a
high Create a guide for Pennsburg’s business community Short Term (0- 3 Years) $25,000 Montgomery County Revitalization Pro- gram, Main Streets Program, Elm Street Program
Lead: Upper Perkiomen Chamber of Commerce, Consultants
Along Main Street and Route 663 to comple- ment the street- scape improve- ments specified in Chapter 3 high Increase the number of street trees along the Borough’s streets, primarily along Main Street. Short to Mid Term (0-6 Years) Montgomery County Revitalization Program, TreeVitalize
Lead: TreeVi- talize $50,000 (for roughly 30 trees, tree grates and in- stallation) Figure 7.6. Funding Matrix 75 A Revitalization Plan for Pennsburg
Title Project
Location
Priority Ranking
Project Description
Time Frame
Cost Estimate
Potential Sources For Funding, Information, and
Expertise
Potential Partners
Pennsburg Community Park Pennsburg Community Park (8th Street and Long Alley) high
Continue work on master plan for park, including new facilities, such as:
• Playground facilities
• Play fields • Seating
• Walking trails • Additional parking
detention facili- ties (including environmen- tally educa- tional signage) Short to Long Term (0-10
Years) $750,000 for new facilities and construc- tion; Master Plan covered by Planning Assistance Contract with Montgomery County Plan- ning Commis- sion TreeVitalize, PECO Green Regions Lead:
Borough Plan- ning Commis- sion;
Perkiomen Regional Planning Commission Members (Upper
Hanover Township, Marlborough Township, Red Hill Bor- ough, East Greenville Borough, and Green Lane Borough), Montgomery County, Local Boy & Girl Scout Groups 76 Getting Back to Main Street Title
Project Location Priority Ranking
Project Description Time Frame
Cost Estimate Potential Sources For Funding, Information, and Expertise Potential Partners
Main Street high Allow businesses to serve food outdoors, increasing business and visibility Short Term (0- 3 Years) Covered by Planning Assis- tance Contract with Montgom- ery County Planning Com- mission
Lead: Borough Planning Commission, Montgomery County
Planning Commission Continue Streetscape Improvements Main Street west towards East Greenville Borough, and Route 663 high Short Term (0- 3 Years) $400,000 (per phase) Montgomery County Revitalization Pro- gram, Elm Street Pro- gram, Main Streets Program
Lead: Main Street Property Owners, Montgomery County Planning Commission, Borough Planning Commission Continue the street- scape improvements outlined in the previ- ous revitalization plan, as well as those speci- fied in Chapter 3 as seen in Figure 3.1, such as: Decorative sidewalks Period street lighting 77 A Revitalization Plan for Pennsburg Title
Project Location Priority Ranking
Project Description Time Frame
Cost Estimate Potential Sources For Funding, In- formation, and Expertise Potential Partners
Main Street high A program to provide grants and/or loans to improve the look and marketability of build- ings along Main Street in Pennsburg Borough Short Term (0- 3 Years) $330,000 Montgomery County Revitalization Pro- gram, Main Streets Program, Elm Street Program Lead: Main Street Property Owners
Install Walking Trails Throughout Bor- ough as specified in Chapter 6 medium lay out plans, including signage and/or on- street markings for trail system in Penns- burg
Mid to Long Term (4-10 Years) $10,000 Lead: Borough Planning Commission, Local Property Owners, Local Business Owners
Heritage Trail Throughout Bor- ough as sug- gested in Chap- ter 6 medium
Create a list of impor- tant sites and link them together, which would help draw atten- tion to both the Bor- ough and its historic resources. Mid to Long Term (4-10 Years)
$25,000 (19 informational signs at ~$1,000 a sign, plus addi- tional funds for development and installation) First Industries Fund - Tourism
Lead: Borough Planning Commission, Local Property Owners, Local Business Owners, Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce, Schwenkfelder Library
|
