May 4, 2003 By Steve Ferris 5 min read

Uniontown residents will have an opportunity at Tuesday’s city council meeting to hear details of a proposed $3 million downtown capital-improvement project. Mayor Jim Sileo said Fay-Penn Economic Development Council strategic planner Bob Junk will make a presentation about the plan during the 7 p.m. meeting.

Sileo first brought the plan to light during an interview with the Herald-Standard editorial board in April.

It was first described as a $6 million plan, calling for the city and county to provide $1.5 million each to match $3 million from the state.

The commissioners said they support revitalizing downtown Uniontown, but cannot afford to commit $1.5 million to the project.

Sileo said he still wants to move forward with a downsized version of the project, in which the city would still come up with $1.5 million to match $1.5 million from the state.

“I feel great about it,” Sileo said. “We’re going to move ahead with it. I think it will work.”

The project involves acquiring and renovating vacant or abandoned downtown buildings, which have yet to be identified. How the buildings would be marketed after the work is done also is unclear.

Replacing the Penn Street parking lot with a two- or three-level parking garage, reconstructing Morgantown and Church streets and installing a sewer line in Bailey Park are other features of the plan. Some funding for the Morgantown Street project and the Bailey Park sewer line has been allocated through the Community Development Block Grant program.

Renovating the State Theatre Center for the Arts is another part of the plan.

The proposal also includes allowing parking on Main Street, but it would require a traffic study, Sileo said.

The CDBG-funded projects could serve as part of the city’s matching funds, but how the city will raise the rest of the $1.5 million remains unclear.

Fay-Penn is helping the city develop its plan in response to a proposal made by Gov. Ed Rendell during an economic summit in February.

Harold Miller of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Alliance was there. The alliance, which helps 10 southwestern counties, including Fayette, plan economic development projects, recommended that Rendell provide funding for infrastructure needs.

Miller said Rendell responded by asking for a list of economic stimulus projects that “would be ready to go, right away” if he funded them, and he wanted the list in 90 days.

Although that deadline is this week, the alliance will present a list of community development projects and a list of industrial development projects to Rendell before the end of the month, he said.

Uniontown’s $3 million project is on the community development list, and a $2 million request for the Fayette County Business Park on Route 40 is on the industrial development list.

“Two projects from Fayette County is exactly the type of industrial and community development combination we’re looking for,” Miller said.

State Rep. Larry Roberts (D-South Union Twp.) said he hasn’t seen the Uniontown proposal but supports revitalization in Uniontown.

He said Rendell is “being receptive, but he’s being very selective” in choosing the projects he will fund.

Roberts said he believes the governor will use the stimulus project proposals to leverage votes for his tax package: “That’s what I see coming. I see a lot of negotiations.”

To help Rendell select projects, the growth alliance lists, which are still drafts, contain information about project readiness and potential job creation. Junk said the Uniontown project is as ready as any other on the community development list.

Miller said the community development projects aren’t expected to create as many jobs as their industrial development counterparts.

“Uniontown revitalization has value beyond just creating jobs,” Miller said. “Who wants to develop industry and have no place to live? Jobs are needed, but you have to have a successful region.”

The growth alliance distributed the lists to county officials at an April 14 meeting. Information updated since then was not available.

According to the list, the Uniontown project would create 35 new jobs, but Junk said the actual number probably will be larger after more details of the plan are worked out. The business park project would create 600 new jobs.

Site acquisition for the Uniontown project is “identified” and is “under control” for the business park.

Miller said identifying the property might be all that is necessary.

Under control indicates that the developer has control over the property and can proceed with its plans, he said. The financial status of the business park project is secured, meaning the local match is in place. The Uniontown project’s financial status is listed as identified.

A feasibility study has been done for the Uniontown project, while site plans have been completed for the business park project.

While more information about Uniontown’s proposed capital improvement project could be revealed Tuesday, it is not the only potential revitalization project on the agenda.

Council will revisit its April 1 decision that denied Fayette Building owner Gary Gearing’s request for Keystone Opportunity Zone status for his building.

Downtown business owners, many of whom supported Gearing’s initial proposal, have been invited to express their opinions about placing the building in a tax-free KOZ during a public hearing that starts at 5:30 p.m.

The Fayette County commissioners and the Uniontown Area School Board have approved Gearing’s request. Approval from the county, school board and city is needed because local real estate taxes would be abated through 2013 if the KOZ is granted. State approval also is needed.

Council will vote on the KOZ request during the regular meeting.