Dec 8, 2003 By Christine Haines 4 min read

BROWNSVILLE – The Brownsville area needs job creation, a better looking downtown area and upscale housing of all types, according to the residents who participated in a public meeting on the comprehensive plan for Brownsville and Brownsville Township. Mackin Engineering and architect Harry Hall have been hired by Brownsville Borough and Brownsville Township to complete the first phase of a comprehensive plan begun several years ago by another firm. More than 20 people participated in the public input session that included a community survey, a listing of issues and goals related to future development and a community imaging exercise.

The participants viewed 45 slides for 10 seconds each, then rated them as being positive or negative on a scale of one to five. The slide showed areas of Brownsville and other communities and included various types of housing, businesses, transportation, public facilities, and parks and open spaces.

“We’re going to use that to help back up some of the goals and issues that we heard,” said Dennis Martinak of Mackin Engineering. “If they rated thing high that they saw from outside this community, we’ll rate those things higher in the comprehensive plan.”

Martinak said this first phase of the comprehensive plan reviews existing conditions in the town, including demographics, historic and cultural resources, natural resources, housing, economic development, transportation, recreation, community facilities and public utilities. Issues in each of those areas were discussed during the meeting.

“We have Brownsville people complaining there aren’t any businesses here, but they don’t acknowledge the businesses that are here. There are drug stores and hardware stores here. People should use them,” said resident Louise Hicks. “It’s a shame we have to go to other towns to do our shopping. That’s just taking our money and giving to another town.”

“I’ve started five different stores in town in the past 10 years and all of them are going to close down except one. If gambling doesn’t come into town, Brownsville is shot,” said businessman Albert Bates.

Bates said a sharp population decline has made it difficult to maintain a customer base for stores in Brownsville.

The need for a better road system in the region was also noted, as resident Bob Hess pointed out that access to the new state prison in neighboring Luzerne Township is poor.

“There are only two roads to get there and they are both suicidal,” Hess said.

“We need highways. All the road structures around this area are deplorable,” said Brownsville Councilman-elect Tuck Rohrer.

Brownsville Mayor Norma Ryan said completion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway is important to the community.

“Remember, businesses aren’t going to move here if they can’t get here,” pointed out Joy Walmsley of Mackin Engineering.

Several people mentioned the need to improve the appearance of the community.

“I just think it’s shameful how the town looks. If you weren’t from the town and known it from another time, you really wouldn’t want to be here,” said resident Nancy Bakewell.

“I get really sad when I see the condition of downtown. I think Brownsville people can do something about it,” said Sister James Ann Jermuska of Cross Keys Human Services in Brownsville.

“We’ve lived here 12 years and been to four or five meetings like this, but we’ve never seen anything come of it. Are you going to make something happen, or is it up to the people of Brownsville,” Jo Hess asked.

Martinak explained that the comprehensive plan will be a tool to be used by the residents and officials in Brownsville for future development.

“We’re going to come up with goals and a process on how they can be done. It’s going to come back to the community to make sure they are achieved,” Martinak said.

Martinak said local input is extremely important to the process and anyone interested in participating in the community survey can contact Walmsley at 412-788-0474, or the Brownsville mayor’s office or Brownsville Township Supervisor Homer Yeardie for a survey.