Oct 20, 2005 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

North Gallatin Avenue area residents heard some recommendations for revitalizing their neighborhood from a firm hired to prepare a plan that will be included in an application for state revitalization funding. Representatives from Mullin and Lonergan Associates of Pittsburgh, the firm hired by the Uniontown Redevelopment Authority to prepare a redevelopment plan for the state’s Elm Street Program, discussed some of the recommendations at Wednesday’s meeting of the Gallatin Avenue Concerned Citizens.

Approximately 40 residents as well as several city officials attended the meeting in American Legion Post 51.

Whitney Finnstrom of Mullin and Lonergan said the application should be completed and submitted by the end of the year.

If approved, the plan, which addresses residential and business development as well as infrastructure improvements throughout the neighborhood, will take 10 to 20 years to fully implement, Finnstrom said.

Marjorie Williams, also of Mullin and Lonergan, said the Elm Street Program uses a five-point approach to neighborhood revitalization and those points must be emphasized in the city’s application.

She said the five points are having a sustainable organization, design, neighborhood and economy, image and identity and safe, and clean and green.

The Gallatin Avenue Concerned Citizens group is a “strong point” in the city’s favor, Williams said.

Janet Bill, president of the concerned citizens group, said bylaws have already been adopted and the board submitted an application to become a non-profit organization.

Williams said the group will need volunteers to help with various activities and corporate sponsorship for funding.

She said design standards should be established for all new residential and commercial buildings so they are compatible with the existing homes and businesses.

Busy intersections should be designated for business development, she said, and damaged sidewalks should be replaced and street trees planed to improve the image of the neighborhood.

Dilapidated and vacant homes should continue to be demolished and code and law enforcement efforts should also continue, she said.

During field visits, Williams said she and others working on the application were amazed at how fast people drove through the neighborhood.

“We were amazed at how fast people drove down residential streets,” Williams said.

James Pashek of Pashek Associates, who is working with Mullin and Lonergan, recommended using signs and landscaping at “gateways” or the main roads into the neighborhood.

Other recommendations that he said should be included in the application include rehabilitating old homes that are not blighted, building townhouses on Maple Street and part of Walnut Street, building owner-occupied duplexes, streetscape improvements on North Gallatin Avenue, enhancing the business corridor along the avenue and making a park across the street from the legion.

Pashek had maps that detail the area where the recommended improvements would be made.

City Councilman Joseph Giachetti asked Pashek to place one of the maps in City Hall so it is accessible to all residents.

Pashek said one map can be placed in City Hall and another copy will be given to the redevelopment authority.

City Councilmen Gary Crozier and Bob Cerjanec and redevelopment authority director Mark Yauger also attended the meeting.

In other business, Bill told residents the group will not meet again until March, but the board will distribute newsletters and stay in contact with residents.

Code enforcement officer and Fire Chief Myron Nypaver encouraged residents who live near the homes where the owners have been cited for property maintenance violations to attend hearings on the citations and testify.

He said three hearings have been scheduled so far at Magisterial District Judge Mark Blair’s office.