Canopy to be built at Storey Square
U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown) said a $481,120 grant has been released to the Fayette County Redevelopment Authority to build a canopy over the stage at Storey Square and renovate the marquee at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in downtown Uniontown. The county applied for the grant to support county Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III’s personal efforts to revitalize the city, said Andrew French, executive eirector of the Redevelopment Authority.
“To compliment the improvements he already made through private funds,” French said.
He explained that the canopy project has already been advertised and the goal is to open the bids by early November and then award a construction contract in December so the work will be done in the spring.
The marquee project should also be completed early next year, but it has not yet been advertised, French said.
Murtha said he earmarked the money through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in an appropriation last year.
“It’s a pleasure to be involved in a project that so clearly demonstrates the power of partnerships,” Murtha said.
“Uniontown’s revitalization is one of those all-too-rare projects where private and government funding from all sources – federal, state, county and city – combine to create a renaissance that leads not only to a better quality of life for residents, but to a stronger community economically.”
Hardy’s real estate and community development company, Commercial Center Associates, paid for the canopy design, French said.
“We’ve all worked together,” said Jessica Hajek of Commercial Center.
The canopy will be the final touch on Storey Square, which was reopened two weeks ago after being closed since early summer for an expansion project.
The project started with Hardy demolishing the former G.C. Murphy building. Storey Square was expanded to encompass the area were Murphy’s was and three high-end clothes shops owned by Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Farmington were placed in the former Penn Theater building, which was attached to the Murphy building.
The marquee at the State Theatre will compliment extensive interior renovations that have been paid for with private donations.
In addition, Uniontown City Council awarded a contract to demolish a wall that separates the first floors of the theater and the Union Trust Building.
The demolition is needed to expand the theater’s stage and dressing room areas.
The work is part of a $385,000 renovation plan that includes installing a fire sprinkler system.
The floor elevations in the adjoining buildings are different.
The project also involves making the floors level with each other.