Feb. 6--Blairsville Downtown, a non-profit organization focused on improving the economic health and quality of life in downtown Blairsville, is poised for a major transition this year, pending approval of an Elm Street Program the group is hoping to pursue in cooperation with Blairsville Borough.

"We'll be phasing out of Main Street and, hopefully, we'll go into a predominant Elm Street role," Jim Carmo, Main Street Manager for Blairsville Downtown, told the group's board of directors at its annual reorganization meeting last week.

Blairsville's Main Street Program, which has promoted economic revitalization, community events and facade improvements in the town's central business district, is approaching the end of an initial five-year period when it has operated with grant support through the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (DCED).

With state approval, Carmo explained, Blairsville Downtown would begin a new role working with the town's proposed Elm Street Program. If Blairsville Borough earns designation as an Elm Street community, it will be eligible for up to $1.25 million in state grants over the next five years to support revitalization of a targeted residential neighborhood through infrastructure and amenity improvements.

According to an Elm Street plan the borough recently submitted for state review, the program initially would focus on all residential areas west of the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that divide the town. The area includes 575 residential structures, 23 commercial structures and three churches.

Unlike with the Main Street Program, a local funding match would not be required to receive DCED grants for hiring an Elm Street manager and covering operational costs of the new program, Carmo noted. But, as with Main Street, the Elm Street Program would offer individual property owners in the designated neighborhood an opportunity to tap additional state funds.

Carmo reported that a facade improvement grant of up to $75,000 would be available to assist participating homeowners with a portion of the cost of exterior improvements to their dwellings. He said residents already have pledged to spend a collective $107,500 on improvements that would leverage the state facade funding.

Blairsville officials expect to learn sometime this spring whether the Elm Street designation has been approved.

Leann Chaney, who co-authored the Elm Street plan under a contract with the borough, presented copies of the document to the Blairsville Downtown board.

The plan suggests: developing gateway areas to welcome visitors to the town on West Market Street and South Walnut Street; making streetscaping improvements on Walnut Street; improving sidewalks and planting trees along key pedestrian corridors; planting ornamental trees at key intersections; developing a Conemaugh River overlook at the western end of Old Main Street; and pursuing waterfront greenway improvements along the river.

The plan also proposes a five-year action strategy that includes:

--Sponsoring a beautification recognition program to acknowledge property owners whose buildings and yards set a positive example for the neighborhood;

--Initiating semi-annual cleanup days;

--Developing community gardens in neighborhood parks and in the vacant lot that formerly was Boone Park;

--Implementing proposed improvements at the Blairsville Community and Recreation Center, including construction of a community swimming pool and pavilion, retrofitting of the center with an updated gymnasium, installation of lighting around the walking track and expansion of parking.

Additional funding would be needed to carry out many of the projects proposed in the Elm Street plan.

Although town planners are shifting their attention to the proposed Elm Street Program, much remains to be completed under the existing Main Street Program.

Main Street Program

Linda Gwinn, outgoing president of the Blairsville Downtown board, stressed the importance of obtaining local money or pledges by July 1 to qualify for a Main Street exit grant from DCED -- helping to fund the program's office rental, utilities and staffing for as long as an additional three years.

Gwinn said DCED will match up to $60,000 of money raised by Blairsville Downtown. To help reach that goal, the organization is planning its annual Night of Comedy fundraising event for Feb. 28 at the Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort and Conference Center just east of town. Sponsors are being sought for tables at the event.

Gwinn noted extension of the Main Street program is key to keeping Blairsville eligible for additional state funding of up to $500,000 to help with redeveloping an anchor building in the town.

Carmo said Blairsville Downtown is seeking a "bridge loan" from a local bank to meet reimbursements due to some property owners in the Main Street facade improvement program until funding is released from Harrisburg.

Due to the state's current budget crunch, "Everything has been pushed back in the fiscal year," he said.

The interest Blairsville Downtown pays on the loan can be counted toward the local match for the Main Street exit grant.

As currently proposed, the Main Street and Elm Street managers both would operate from the Blairsville Downtown office at 53 W. Market St. A separate committee would directly oversee the proposed Elm Street Program, operating under the umbrella of Blairsville Downtown. The Blairsville Downtown board designated three of its 11 seats to be filled by representatives from the Elm Street panel.

As part of the process of developing the Elm Street plan, a provisional Blairsville Neighborhood Committee already has been formed. The committee is chaired by the Rev. Terry Shaffer, who also serves as the newly elected president of the Blairsville Downtown board and is pastor of Blairsville's First United Methodist Church. Other committee officers are Vice Chairman Michael LaMantia, Secretary John Herby and Treasurer Karen Greene.

Carmo explained the neighborhood committee will "promote the revitalization of residential neighborhoods while linking to the improvements of the downtown business district and the borough's recreational and cultural groups."

Carmo noted Blairsville Downtown assisted the borough in applying for $3.1 million in grant funding from the PennDOT's $60 million Smart Transportation Program. If Blairsville's application is successful, the money would be used to improve and widen the "Diamond" intersection at Market and Stewart streets while extending a streetscaping plan recently begun on adjacent blocks of Market Street.

Currently, vehicles are prohibited from circling around the intersection's central gazebo. The improvements would allow traffic to once more flow in a complete circle and make left turns at the intersection.

Carmo said a ruling on the funding application should be forthcoming this month. He noted a restored Diamond roundabout would mesh with a proposed Infill Housing Project that would tap DCED funding to provide for residential development on surrounding property. The property formerly was occupied by a succession of automotive schools, beginning with Vale Tech and ending with WyoTech, now located at the Corporate Campus industrial park in adjacent Burrell Township.

According to Carmo, a planning study now is needed for the housing project and will be funded with a $10,000 grant from the McKenna Foundation. He said a request for proposals will be issued to hire a study consultant.

In other business, Carmo said a $50,000 grant is being sought from the Arnold Palmer Foundation to help develop a proposed hiking and biking trail loop along the Conemaugh River. Local planners are hoping to link that loop to two regional routes: the Hoodlebug and West Penn trails.

Meanwhile, he said, discussions are under way with Indiana County's Indigo transit authority and proposed sponsors to provide a bus loop between West Market Street and the Corporate Campus.

Peggy Kinter, who is vice president of the Blairsville Downtown board and chairs its economic restructuring committee, said the owner of the former G.C. Murphy's building is moving forward with plans to open a 5,000-square-foot food court and chicken restaurant on the first floor. The owner previously announced plans to use another portion of the three-story structure to house a school offering training for medical office staff.

Kinter added that a businessman has expressed interest in possibly opening a jewelry store in Blairsville.

It was noted that Blairsville's Women's Professional Network has volunteered to provide a tree and decorations at the Diamond and gazebo during the next Christmas holiday season.

Dianna Messenger, Blairsville Downtown board secretary and promotions chair, said her committee will seek to improve relations with Blairsville schools to recruit students to volunteer for community projects. She noted a Blairsville High School student ecology club sponsored by instructor Graig Marx was key to the success of Blairsville Downtown's Earth Day cleanup and related programs last spring.

Other promotion activities last year included ribbon rallies for Bobcat home football games and an open house for the Stompin' Grounds coffee shop.

The Blairsville Downtown board agreed to host an appearance by speaker Chuck D'Aprix, inviting representatives from neighboring communities to attend. Details of the program were still to be determined.

An economic development and downtown revitalization professional with more than 27 years of experience, D'Aprix operates two firms based in Washington, D.C. -- Economic Development Visions and The Downtown Entrepreneurship Project.

D'Aprix has submitted a proposal for providing Blairsville with a market analysis and entrepreneurship services.

Jim Piper was elected treasurer, rounding out the board's slate of officers. Also serving on the board are Diana Baca and Karen Greene, while five seats remain to be filled.

Though departing as president to pursue other commitments, Gwinn said she would be available to consult with the board's new leadership.

The board agreed to send a letter to Matt Lester, informing him that his seat on the panel was being vacated due to non-attendance at board meetings.

Anyone wishing to serve on the Blairsville Downtown board or one of its committees should call the organization's office at 724-459-8588.

Jeff Himler can be reached at jhimler@tribweb.com or 724-459-6100, ext. 13.

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