Downtown Erie Residential Development

[pj3000]

The current mayor, Joe Sinnott, is very committed to bringing residential development back to downtown Erie. Projects like this is what the city needs to replace all of the empty lots... those lots created by the dreaded community block grants of the 70s and 80s, where the city basically received federal funds to demolish buildings and replace them with surface parking lots or out of place 1-2 story buildings.

Here's a nice rendering of the proposed block on Peach St. between W13th and W14th, near Union Station and Griswold Plaza Park/Post Office. This area of town has the potential to be a very cool spot for young professionals with all of the current and planned developments. Hope they all come to fruition...

http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070201&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=702010392&Ref=V4&MaxW=580&title=1
http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070201&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo

http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070201&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo

Vacant buildings could soon morph into 'home ownership opportunities'

BY GEORGE MILLER
george.miller@timesnews.com [more details] (http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/personalia?ID=gmiller&category=CONTACT)

Published: February 01. 2007 7:00AM http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070201&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=702010392&Ref=AR&MaxW=240
The old Warren Radio building at the corner of 14th and Peach. (ROB ENGELHARDT/Erie Times-News)

Townhouses could be going up as early as 2008 on the site of the vacant Warren Radio building at West 14th and Peach streets.

The Erie Redevelopment Authority has gone to court to acquire the property, which has been declared blighted, through eminent domain, and hopes to have ownership in about a month, said John R. Elliott, the authority's executive director.

The building is then expected to be demolished to make way for the townhouses, or rowhouses, as envisioned in the downtown revitalization plan prepared by the consulting firm of Kise Straw Kolodner of Philadelphia in 2006.

Elliott said a developer could be selected by summer.

"We're talking to a couple different developers who have expressed an interest," Elliott said.


Construction could begin in 2008, he said.

As many as eight townhouses could be built along Peach Street from East 14th Street northward to the end of the Warren Radio property, a distance of about 178 feet.

Mayor Joe Sinnott and Elliott said the townhouses are part of the city's overall goal to bring people back downtown to live in owner-occupied residences, helping to revitalize the area.

"A big part of this plan is to create home ownership opportunities downtown," said Elliott, adding that only 1 percent of the approximately 1,300 people living downtown are in owner-occupied homes. "A project like this could almost double the homeownership rate."

The Kise Straw & Kolodner plan calls for as many as 90 townhouses to be built in the downtown area.


The city and Redevelopment Authority are also seeking a $250,000 state grant to renovate Griswold Park on the west side of Peach Street from West 14th Street to West 13th Street.

As part of the Kise Straw & Kolodner plan, the authority has already acquired through eminent domain two other major vacant buildings in the area.

One is the former Mercantile Building at East 14th and State streets. The authority is working on a multimillion project there to create an office, retail and residential complex.

The authority also acquired a three-and-a-half story building directly behind the Mercantile Building, part of which is to be used for residences.

Those two buildings, as well as the Warren Radio building, were all owned by the late Steve McGarvey, whose major redevelopment project, Lovell Place, filed for bankruptcy after his death. His estate is insolvent.

The three McGarvey buildings were declared blighted by the city's Blighted Property Review Committee, a step needed to start eminent-domain procedures.

While the authority will take ownership of the Warren Radio building in about 30 days, the purchase price will be determined later by appraisals to establish its fair-market value, Elliott said. The authority will pay that money to McGarvey's estate after taxes and liens are paid.

McGarvey owned a number of other buildings in that area.

"Steve McGarvey had a great vision for this neighborhood," Elliott said. "In a lot of ways, he was the first person to see the potential of this neighborhood."

GEORGE MILLER can be reached at 870-1724 or by e-mail.

Update
Background: Downtown revitalization plan recommends that townhouses be built on the former Warren Radio site.

The latest: Erie Redevelopment Authority files court action to acquire the former Warren Radio building.

What's next: After acquisition, the building will be demolished as a prelude to building eight townhouses.

[pj3000]

Planned developments on bluff overlooking Bayfront Parkway and Presque Isle Bay to consist of offices/condominiums. The buildings on the right side of the image are the proposed developments, the multipurpose trail and park already exist. Sorry for the crappy quality.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/376641486_3d9b528cb7_o.jpg

[Evergrey]

I like that Peach St. plan... but I can imagine Joe Schmoe complaining about reducing the lanes from 4 to 2.

That bluff rendering is beautiful.

[EventHorizon]

http://geimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=GE&Date=20070201&Category=NEWS02&ArtNo=702010392&Ref=V4&MaxW=580&title=1

These houses look very English to me. I like them a lot. :)

[pj3000]

I like that Peach St. plan... but I can imagine Joe Schmoe complaining about reducing the lanes from 4 to 2.

Oh yeah... the Joe Schmoes will definitely complain about any change for the good of the city. That's one of the main problems in Erie, and in the rustbelt in general - there are way too many people content with living 10-20 years behind the times.

[pj3000]

This photo somewhat provides reference for where the office/condominium project on the bayfront bluff will be located. The location will be on the far left side of this photo, just to the right of the 100 State Street office building (with the horizontal window bands in the photo).


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/376915790_f931a6c833_o.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/376641486_3d9b528cb7_o.jpg

[BigKidD]

This should be a great project for the city. Right now I attend Gannon University which is located in the heart of downtown Erie where quite a bit of redevelopment would be very useful, especially pedestrian friendly streets and enforcement of speed laws for drivers. Could you explain a little bit more about the destruction of buildings throughout Erie?
Furthermore, my housing is located at 5th and Peach st. and I'm amazed at how many parking lots are located in this city. Also, the suburban styled mcdonalds at 5th and State st. laying right next to a mini-sea of parking lots.

[Wheelingman04]

I like Erie. It is nice to see all of those cool projects proposed. I am happy the mayor is really trying to create lots of residential downtown.

[Austinlee]

That is an ugly city... But ALL the projects I've seen renderings for in the last year or so from the convention center to residentials, to conod towers all look really nice. They must be turning around that place!! Erie is the new Cleveland? Or just a lesser mistake also on the lake?

[danwxman]

I LOVE Erie...but it makes me so depressed every time I visit. There's parking lots and abondoned factories EVERYWHERE. That city must have been so dense before all the old stuff was torn down years ago. Eight townhouses is a start, but I'm affraid it's barely a blip on the radar screen for Erie. I do like hearing about the new condo/apartment building projects along the bay and I hope they get built.

[ColDayMan]

That is an ugly city... But ALL the projects I've seen renderings for in the last year or so from the convention center to residentials, to conod towers all look really nice. They must be turning around that place!! Erie is the new Cleveland? Or just a lesser mistake also on the lake?

It's the new Port Huron.

[BigKidD]

Erie is an example of a what a city should not do to itself, at least in the past. Destroying many buidlings for parking lots and creating random patches of green space due to missing houses for one. Also, what has not helped the city is that many people don't live in the downtown area unless they're a minority or of lower income statue. Furthermore, the downtown is mildly dead in the aspect that for shopping you have to go to the millcreek mall that is surroundered by box stores and generic eateries. Another thing is there are not many people in downtown on the weekends except for a hockey game or going to bars. I think the city's destruction of many buildings and the lose of many jobs has hurt it quite too much and recovery will be very slow if it ever happens.

[pj3000]

Eight townhouses is a start, but I'm affraid it's barely a blip on the radar screen for Erie.

Per the article, the plan actually calls for 90 townhouses in the area. Eight just along that one block in the rendering.

[pj3000]

That is an ugly city... But ALL the projects I've seen renderings for in the last year or so from the convention center to residentials, to conod towers all look really nice. They must be turning around that place!! Erie is the new Cleveland? Or just a lesser mistake also on the lake?

It's definitely true that Erie has more than its fair share of rundown neighborhoods and closed factories, but I wouldn't call it an ugly city overall. Pittsburgh also has quite a vast assortment of "ugly" areas, as does Buffalo, Cleveland, etc., yet in general, I wouldn't call those cities ugly at all. The thing is, Erie's smaller and therefore, shows its wear that much more. It's a place that makes no apologies for its industrial grit, nor for the fact that it still remains heavily reliant on manufacturing. And, therein lies one of the main problems the city is facing - emerging from that outdated heavy-manufacturing economy.

It's been, and continues to be, a very slow process in turning the region around. With a shrinking population and with (up until now) very little help from Harrisburg, this has not been a easy task. Couple those factors with near-retarded civic "leadership" and you get a difficult situation. However, the city has been able to somehow remain financially solvent and avoid the PA Act 47 situation, while Pittsburgh and Scranton have not been able to do so. Although it seems that another factory closes each week in Erie, most signs of economic recovery are positive. There are many new technologically-based industries breaking ground in the city and region as a whole. But, these are topics for another thread...

[pj3000]

The Erie Redevelopment Authority has purchased the buildings on 14th and State Streets in Erie for complete renovation into residences and work/display space for artists. These buildings are just across the street from the Mercantile building which is set to begin renovation to a retail/office/residential complex.

The lone current tenant here is the North Coast Health Club, a "rub-and-tug" massage parlor... there seem to be quite a few of these "health clubs" in Erie. A "friend" told me that the only health club acoutrements he ever saw in one was an old exercise bike in a corner, hot tubs, and showers. Anyway, I hope this story has a "Happy Ending", if you catch my drift...

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http://farm1.static.flickr.com/160/376975464_70d6c7122e_o.jpg

[bpg88]

Great to see positive things happening in Erie. Nice to see some of these smaller cities getting a grasp on design and preservation as well.

[pj3000]

Could you explain a little bit more about the destruction of buildings throughout Erie?
Furthermore, my housing is located at 5th and Peach st. and I'm amazed at how many parking lots are located in this city. Also, the suburban styled mcdonalds at 5th and State st. laying right next to a mini-sea of parking lots.

PA's antiquated and ridiculous tax structure causes it to be much cheaper for a building's owner to demolish a building than to keep it standing. For example, if a building is vacant (as are many of the wonderful old industrial buildings in Erie are) it still costs the property owner an unreasonably high yearly property tax fee, yet if it is just an empty lot, the yearly property taxes decrease by as much as 90%. So, if an owner cannot find tenants or a developer, there is no financial incentive to keep the building standing. Unfortunately, there are so many old industrial buildings in the city, but the city is not large enough or economically strong enough to redevelop all of them. Many of them are obsolete for modern industrial use and a city the size of Erie can only support so many large loft apartment/mixed use complexes (it already has two very large ones in Modern Tool Square and Lovell Place and those are not nearly at capacity).

It's terrible what hs happened in Erie and it really needs to stop. Even worse is the demolition of nonindustrial buildings that the city has allowed to happen over the years. I watched them demolish the beautiful 12-story Commerce Building on the corner of 12th & State in the mid-1980s as a child. A vacant lot existed there for probably 8 years afterwards and now an out of place, 2 story, suburban-styled, drive-thru credit union sits on the corner where one of Erie's grandest structures once stood... pitiful. I see that Erie has still not learned its lessons when I hear that the old vacant retail building at 10th & Peach Streets was demolished and to be replaced with, yet again, a drive-thru bank...

The area you mention around 5th and State is an area of focus for the downtown redevelopment plan. It calls for the removal of that drive-thru McDonald's and construction of a retail complex on those surface lots. I wouldn't hold my breath...

[Evergrey]

Can you tell us more about Modern Tool Square and Lovell Place?


drive-thru banks are a plague

[pj3000]

Can you tell us more about Modern Tool Square and Lovell Place?


drive-thru banks are a plague

Yes, drive-thru banks are a scourge, especially in downtown areas.

As for Modern Tool Square and Lovell Place... Modern Tool was a redevelopment project of the mid 1980s when conversion of old industrial buildings was still relatively new. It takes up the entire block bounded by State and French/E4th and E3rd. It was an 1850s era tool and die shop and automobile factory (the Payne Modern) and was slated for demolition (as was the former Diamond National Plant across the street - major conversion to a professional office complex). Thankfully, a developer was found and it was converted into a a really cool indoor markethouse with deli, cafes, bakery, shops, etc. and loft-style apartments (very cool for Erie in the late 1980s, and also unrealistic for the city at the time). It went bankrupt and was purchased by the late Steve McGarvey (a 23 year-old with family money from the Country Fair convenience store empire) in the early 90s. The indoor market is gone, but the loft apartments remain (which are very nice), along with professional offices and the Marketplace Grill Restaurant.
This is all I can find!:
http://i5.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/88/6b/c2aa_1_b.JPG
http://www.spiegelmgt.com/ImageResizeCache/fe18180ccd43c3fba230a8a539742bb7.jpg
http://www.spiegelmgt.com/ImageResizeCache/add2fe24e83a09964c30ee639e88ccde.jpg
http://www.spiegelmgt.com/ImageResizeCache/2149a0ebf840a70eb2a8145250813ed1.jpg

McGarvey also purchased the Lovell Manufacturing complex occupying the block between French and Holland/E13th and E14th and the sprawling 1880s washing machine factory into a mixed use development. It currently houses loft apartments, Matthew's Trattoria (one of Erie's best restaurants and swankiest bar/lounges), the Erie Book Store (hundred year old independent shop), and government offices. Unfortunately, the true vision for Lovell Place has not been fully realized yet. He had palns to redevelop the entire blighted neighborhood as "Midtown Erie", even though the actual Midtown is actually about 10+ blocks south. McGarvey stretched himself a bit too thin and expanded his redevelopment efforts into Buffalo. Supposedly, his attorneys got him into financial difficulty there and in Erie. Basically, it seems that McGarvey was trying to do some good for both cities and was taken advantage of by lawyers while he was experiencing numerous health problems (he was confined to a wheelchair due to a childhood accident and was never in the best of health throughout his life). He died at 36 a couple of years ago without seeing his main project fully complete. But he definitely did provide seem needed vision for the city. As a result, I know that there have been management problems with the apartments there, but they are also very nice and the surrounding neighborhood is turning around for the better.

Don't have any photos, but here's a rendering:
http://www.lovellplace.com/lovell_sketch.jpg
And the outdated website: http://www.lovellplace.com/index.html

McGarvey was also instumental in starting the redevelopment of the blocks of turn of the century rowhouses and apartment buildngs built for factory workers and their families near the city's Dock Junction area on the west side. Now known as Landmark Square, these blocks of buildings are currently undergoing renovation. Sorry, these are the only pics I can find.
http://image.homesandland.com/image/othr/0/othr520210.jpg
http://image.homesandland.com/image/othr/5/othr356485.jpg

[pj3000]

Erie's once proud and quite extensive "Little Italy" neighborhood has seen better days. Drugs, prostitution, and crime in general, have led to the area's decline over the past 30 years. Although the area has shrunk drastically as the neighborhood's original denizens have long since moved out (the area is mainly populated by Hispanic and some African-American families today), there are still outposts of the former Italian culture. Arnone's Bakery and Delicatessen, International Bakery, Hector's, Luigi's, and Arnone's restaturants, Pedano's Florist, Circolo Nazionale Club, Nuova Aurora Club, and of course, St. Paul's RC church all still remain. It has become an interesting mix of cultures with the old Italian holdouts living next door to Hispanic immigrants and Puerto Rican (Lugo's) and Dominican (Rosa's Legacy) restaurants opening in close proximity with the old Italian ones. Crime in the area is down and new businesses have opened recently (Barbara's Gelateria and Plaza 18 Medical Center). The city has recognized this and is funding redevelopment efforts maily focused along the West 18th St. corridor. Here's one example of renovation and new construction on an empty lot:


18th and Walnut, Erie, PA Mixed-use revitalization project
504 W. 18th Street includes new construction with first floor commercial storefront and two, one bedroom apartments on second floor.
506 W. 18th includes renovation with commercial storefront and apartments.
Project awarded by the Erie Redevelopment Authority to help revitalize Erie's "Little Italy"

http://www.kidderwachter.com/images/p_7_1.jpg

http://www.kidderwachter.com/images/p_7_2.jpg

http://www.kidderwachter.com/images/p_7_3.jpg

[BigKidD]

PA's antiquated and ridiculous tax structure causes it to be much cheaper for a building's owner to demolish a building than to keep it standing. For example, if a building is vacant (as are many of the wonderful old industrial buildings in Erie are) it still costs the property owner an unreasonably high yearly property tax fee, yet if it is just an empty lot, the yearly property taxes decrease by as much as 90%. So, if an owner cannot find tenants or a developer, there is no financial incentive to keep the building standing. Unfortunately, there are so many old industrial buildings in the city, but the city is not large enough or economically strong enough to redevelop all of them. Many of them are obsolete for modern industrial use and a city the size of Erie can only support so many large loft apartment/mixed use complexes (it already has two very large ones in Modern Tool Square and Lovell Place and those are not nearly at capacity).

It's terrible what hs happened in Erie and it really needs to stop. Even worse is the demolition of nonindustrial buildings that the city has allowed to happen over the years. I watched them demolish the beautiful 12-story Commerce Building on the corner of 12th & State in the mid-1980s as a child. A vacant lot existed there for probably 8 years afterwards and now an out of place, 2 story, suburban-styled, drive-thru credit union sits on the corner where one of Erie's grandest structures once stood... pitiful. I see that Erie has still not learned its lessons when I hear that the old vacant retail building at 10th & Peach Streets was demolished and to be replaced with, yet again, a drive-thru bank...

The area you mention around 5th and State is an area of focus for the downtown redevelopment plan. It calls for the removal of that drive-thru McDonald's and construction of a retail complex on those surface lots. I wouldn't hold my breath...
It's sad to hear what Erie has become. I will most likely not be able to witness any more redevelopment in Erie since I might transfer schools. Also, I'm assuming the old central high school was demolished:
http://www.familyoldphotos.com/pa/images/oct/centralhs-erie.jpg
And the destruction of the Commerce Building was a bad loss for the city architecturally, http://www.cardcow.com/share.php?id=22991

[pj3000]

It's sad to hear what Erie has become. I will most likely not be able to witness any more redevelopment in Erie since I might transfer schools. Also, I'm assuming the old central high school was demolished

Yes, the old Central High was demolished long ago... before my time, in the 1960s I believe. It was located between West 10th and 11th on Sassafras where St. Peter's Cathedral Center school building and parking lots are now. My father went to school there for two years in the 1950s before it was closed down. He said it was in really bad shape when he was a student there. While sad that such a great building was lost, urban public schools usually do not last all that long in general. They take a great deal of abuse over the years and become outdated relatively quickly. Technical Memorial High School on Cherry Street in South Erie was constructed in 1959 to replace the old Central High.

Sorry to hear you may be leaving Gannon, it's a good school, but I know that Erie's a tough town. Good Luck!

[BigKidD]

Yes, the old Central High was demolished long ago... before my time, in the 1960s I believe. It was located between West 10th and 11th on Sassafras where St. Peter's Cathedral Center school building and parking lots are now. My father went to school there for two years in the 1950s before it was closed down. He said it was in really bad shape when he was a student there. While sad that such a great building was lost, urban public schools usually do not last all that long in general. They take a great deal of abuse over the years and become outdated relatively quickly. Technical Memorial High School on Cherry Street in South Erie was constructed in 1959 to replace the old Central High.

Sorry to hear you may be leaving Gannon, it's a good school, but I know that Erie's a tough town. Good Luck!
Yes, schools can get to be runned down easily, but the old central high school looks like it was quite an impressive building back then. Also, GU is not a bad school, but it does not offer the major I want to pursue for my future. Hence my reason for the transfer.

In regards of Erie, it's not a bad city, but very different from the SF Bay Area. Furthermore, could you outline any interesting sites in downtown Erie worth walking to or around. I have walked a little bit around downtown, but after seeing all the redevelopment and proposals you posted it looks like I still have a lot to see. When the weather gets better I hope to start taking pictures of the city while I'm still here.

[Wheelingman04]

Is Erie worth going to for a day trip? I have not been there for so many years, I cannot remember it much.

[pj3000]

^ Yeah, but I'd wait until late spring or summer. Unless you're a snow lover.

I love visiting the ol' hometown in the summer... sitting on the beach, whiling away a hot afternoon... only place in PA that one can do that.

[pj3000]

Sorry about the red x's above. The photos were there, but nows they ain't... I think the architect's website that they are from is down right now.

[DEBOI302]

Yes, the old Central High was demolished long ago... before my time, in the 1960s I believe. It was located between West 10th and 11th on Sassafras where St. Peter's Cathedral Center school building and parking lots are now. My father went to school there for two years in the 1950s before it was closed down. He said it was in really bad shape when he was a student there. While sad that such a great building was lost, urban public schools usually do not last all that long in general. They take a great deal of abuse over the years and become outdated relatively quickly. Technical Memorial High School on Cherry Street in South Erie was constructed in 1959 to replace the old Central High.

Sorry to hear you may be leaving Gannon, it's a good school, but I know that Erie's a tough town. Good Luck!
how come PA doesnt make any of Erie's buildings historical in Delaware the government makes some of the dumbest buildings historial especially in wilmington i think they were trying to make the old coca cola headquarters (yes the headquarter was in wilmington before moving to atlanta) historical and that thing is in terrible shape... P.S elementary school which has been a high school and so much other things will most likely never be torn down just because the DuPont's built it, its a beautliful school though so is the school Burnett which is like 8 stories tall

[DEBOI302]

i love being from Wilmington the credit card capital of the world/ the chemical capital of the world/ one of the most dangerous cities in america you get the feel that when you come here your in a real american city which is really well rounded we dont have a nightlife here we go to philly and philly comes here to shop because we're tax free lol, i think the mayor of erie should come here and learn a thing or two about how to run a city and fix up industrial sites during WWII our riverfront was nothing but shipbuilding and iron yards now they have a baseball stadium, a convention center shops and building more condo's and buildings down there

[pj3000]

Renovation set to begin on blighted Mercantile Building. Mixed-use development of commercial/retail space on ground floor with residential condominiums on upper floors. State grant has been approved for Erie Redevelopment Authority to begin project. Located in downtown Erie at E14th & State streets.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/386944196_ec8f26880e_b.jpg

Currently vacant:
http://www.redeveloperie.org/graphics/Mercantile%20Building%20Photo1.jpg

[Evergrey]

that area looks awesome... so much potential

[MasonsInquiries]

i like the look of that "14th and State Streets" project. very creative. good to see action going on in erie.

[Wheelingman04]

^ Yeah, but I'd wait until late spring or summer. Unless you're a snow lover.

I love visiting the ol' hometown in the summer... sitting on the beach, whiling away a hot afternoon... only place in PA that one can do that.

I am going to go in the summer. I would love to see the beach.

[pj3000]

Back in the old hometown for a few days. I noticed that this project featured earlier in this thread is actually well underway! I almost don't believe it... revitalization plans actually being followed through in Erie... amazing!

http://www.kidderwachter.com/images/p_7_2.jpg

[Evergrey]

what does that image represent, pj3000?

[BigKidD]

Back in the old hometown for a few days. I noticed that this project featured earlier in this thread is actually well underway! I almost don't believe it... revitalization plans actually being followed through in Erie... amazing!

http://www.kidderwachter.com/images/p_7_2.jpg
That's nice to hear. The lead story on the front page of Gannon's newspaper was pertaining to Erie's Mayor Joe Sinnott looking to redevelop the city and keep college graduates here. Hopefully some of his plans see the light of day and come true. Furthermore, I think some trees on State St. would really help the streetscrape and environment. Probably not likely to happen and mostly pertaining to State St. around 9th, 10th, etc.

[pj3000]

what does that image represent, pj3000?

It's from the first page of this thread. A mixed-use development/revitalization project in Erie's once-thriving Little Italy neighborhood.

[pj3000]

New construction in one of Erie's most blighted inner city areas. The Parade Street corridor was Erie's original main street and was the route that connected the French (then British) forts Presque Isle and LeBoeuf. The more urban, 30-block stretch has long suffered decline. Many beautiful old buidlings have met the wrecking ball including: the Union Bank Building (replaced with a CVS) and many wonderful turn of the century apartment buildings (replaced with a mega-sized Rite-Aid). The area is still somewhat dangerous, but much progress has been made, with more developments planned.

Here are some views of the new condos... kind of odd-looking, but better than empty lots.
http://hace.org/images/Revitalization%20photo.jpg

Housing Authority Leads Parade Street Renaissance
http://hace.org/content/images/stories/sections/condo2corner.jpg
This corner view of the Parade Street Condominiums shows two of the garages and the fence and gate that make this gated development so attractive to those who have seen it.
The Parade Street Condominiums has its first buyer, a family from Bosnia who chose a three-bedroom condo.
The sale was made after the initial open house, ,which was held in September. Almost 100 people attended.
The Bosnian family, consisiting of a married couple and their two children, got a bargain -- $82,175 for the three bedroom unit, said John E. Horan, director of the Erie Housing Authority.

"This family -- a father and mother and their two sons, ages 7 and 9 -- now have a chance to live the American Dream," Horan said.
The Parade Stree Condominiums are situated at East 14th and Parade streets.
Although the commercial units are being offered to the general public, as well as Authority tenants, "The Authority intends to give our income-qualified public housing tenants the first opportunity to purchase the residential units," said Horan. The American Dream of homeownership is coming back to Parade Street. We hope it will spark additional commercial and residential development. This is a large first step in the renaissance of the historic Parade Street corridor."
The Parade Street development contains six residential and two commercial units. For qualified public housing tenants, the residential units will be available from $58,900 to $87,780, depending upon the size of the condominium.
The 14th and Parade Street site had been vacant for the past 27 years. "This is one of the most significant developments on Parade Street in decades," Horan said.
"We're not just about temporary rental housing any more," Horan said of the Authority. "We're about people -- helping to put people on their feet in terms of both jobs and homeownership. This development provides homeownership opportunities and helps jump-start the Parade Street renewal efforts. It also beautifies and enhances the city."
"With our Parade Street development now on the market, the Housing Authority of the City of Erie is giving current public housing residents who are ready to become first-time homebuyers an opportunity to own a very nice place in which to build equity," said Horan. "Several of the new condominiums have workspaces on the first floor. Buyers will have the flexibility to use the first floor for either an in-home business or for additional living space, depending on their family needs."
"These condos are being sold below our cost to make them affordable to public housing tenants," Horan said. "This is in direct accordance with our mission, which is to foster economic self-sufficiency among the residents we serve, while helping to revitalize the city. Getting families into their own homes is an essential part of economic and personal self-sufficiency, and we believe this development will begin a Parade Street renaissance."

[pj3000]

Developers Named for Downtown Revitalization ProjectCity of Erie officials say developers have been chosen to begin a major downtown revitalization project.
Fourth River Development of Pittsburgh and Radnor Property Group from Wayne will begin work early next year.
The team will work on phase one, which includes townhouses and streetscaping around Griswold Plaza in the area from 12th to 14th Streets between Holland and Sassafras Streets.
With nearly $1 billion in past development history, city officials are confident the right team is now in place.
City officials have earmarked some funding for streetscaping and other projects, but private financing will make up the majority of the project.


Video link:
http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/lnk/va92win15111/TAYLOR031407A.wmv/play.asx

[Evergrey]

well how's that for Keystone Unity!

[pj3000]

Copyright 2007 Erie Times-News
Erie Times-News (Pennsylvania)

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News
March 15, 2007 Thursday
STATE AND REGIONAL NEWS
20070315-EI-MASTER-PLAN-20070315
473 words
Erie builds master planGeorge Miller, Erie Times-News, Pa.

Mar. 15--Downtown revitalization is moving forward.
Mayor Joe Sinnott announced Wednesday that Fourth River Development of Pittsburgh and Radnor Property Group of Wayne will team up as master developers for the first phase of downtown revitalization focusing on the mid-town area.
"They are very accomplished developers," the mayor said, adding they have participated in projects of nearly $1 billion.
He estimated the master developer will invest about $10 million in the revitalization of the mid-town area from West 12th to West 14th streets bounded by Sassafras and Holland streets.
"This is very exciting for our city," he said. "A project of this magnitude will begin to change the face of our entire downtown."
The master developer will work from a downtown revitalization plan unveiled in summer by the consulting firm of Kise Straw & Kolodner of Philadelphia.
The first phase calls for $20 million worth of projects in the mid-town area, including a new mixed-use building with about 30,000 square feet of space and townhouses. It includes the renovation of the former Mercantile Building, at East 14th and State streets, now being undertaken by the Redevelopment Authority.
Work already is under way for a townhouse project along Peach Street.
The Redevelopment Authority is in the process of acquiring the former Warren Radio building through eminent domain so it can be demolished to provide space for as many as eight townhouses.
John R. Elliott, the Redevelopment Authority's executive director, said the selection of the master developer is a very important step in moving the revitalization ahead.
"This is very important that these two large developers that have a phenomenal track record have expressed interest in taking on this project," he said. "It gives us a jump-start in getting more of these projects done sooner."
As master developers, the firms will take a lead role in several of the planned projects, he said.
But Elliott said there is a role for other developers to do projects there.
"Their main interest is in new construction," he said. "A lot of rehabilitation work is still very open. There's a lot of room for more players here."
Sinnott said the master development team recently received a $6 million earmark from the "Build PA Fund" that could be used in Erie's revitalization.
The selection of the developers was made Wednesday afternoon by the city, Redevelopment Authority and the Downtown Improvement District.

[Evergrey]

http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd360/pittsburghrules/erie/DSC05637.jpg

[dugdogmaster]

http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd360/pittsburghrules/erie/DSC05637.jpg

I'd say they're a little behind schedule

[realcity]

How's Erie's population doing? growing?

[pj3000]

I highly doubt that Erie's population is growing. We'll see what the 2010 census shows...

[Erie Pa]

Gannon University sucessful on 1st reading to get two blocks on campus re-zoned to C3. This will allow for high density dorms, remove 35ft height restrictions and also remove setback restrictions.
Gannon plans 3 new dorms bringing density to one block to about 850 students.

[pj3000]

http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd360/pittsburghrules/erie/DSC05637.jpg

This apartment development has been completed. Early summer 2009, I believe. Saw them when I was in town over Thanksgiving... look pretty nice. Great views of Presque Isle Bay.