Ellwood planning face-lift for downtown
February 2, 2009

By Maryalice Meli
New Castle News

Ellwood City Revitalization’s extreme downtown makeover plans thrilled merchants at Thursday’s sneak peek.

Residents can examine them tomorrow.

A public town meeting will be conducted at 6:30 PM at the sons of Italy, 808 Lawrence Ave., a year almost to the day since the concept was first presented to a nearly standing-room-only crowd.

A snow date is set for Feb. 10.

Dan Franus, vice president of the non-profit organization’s 10-member board of directors, said the group spent the past year researching what works elsewhere and what does not.

The aim of revitalization, he said, “is to get more people back to using the downtown…just (making it) pretty doesn’t work”.

Lenore Bazzichi, president of Ellwood City Revitalization, said the jewel in the crown – the Ellwood City Community Plaza – is more than a makeover.

The work to realize the dream is going to take the investment of the whole community, something that already has begun, Franus and Bazzichi said.

Merchants have ponied up about $50,000, the Hoyt Foundation kicked in $350,000, and the borough donated $7,800 in seed money last year and has pledged demolition and grading services and environmental studies to prepare the area that will become the plaza.

The borough is applying, for state and federal grants, and along with community fund-raising the $1.1 million needed within six months. A ribbon-cutting for the plaza is planned for fall of 2010.

When the project is completed, one will be able to stand near the library at Vosler Way and look north for three blocks between Crescent, Lawrence and, Beaver avenues, Bazzchi pointed out.

Buildings now block that view.

Senior citizens at Schill Manor and Crescent Place will be able to walk down Vosler Way via a walkway next to the borough building and renovated ramp/step area to Lawrence Avenue.

Crossing Lawrence, the plaza will begin where Dr. Alexander Chang’s building now stands. Chang has agreed to sell the building to the committee for less than its retail value. The borough has agreed to demolish it, and grade the property and its empty lot next door.

The property, between Lawrence and Beaver Avenues, will measure 60x80 feet. Franus said it will be slightly graded to ease the walk through the landscaped park, past tables and chairs and a waterfall against the west wall of the New Dimensions Comic building.

In the permanent location of last year’s popular farmer’s market, an area that crosses Beaver Avenue to the parking lot, an open-air building resembling and old train station will be built. The east-west railroad tracks run behind it.

Bazzichi said that with electric power and heat, it could be used year-around for the sales spanning spring seedlings to summer produce, fall pumpkins and Christmas trees. It could also be the site of future art shows.

As many local companies as possible will be hired for the construction, Franus said.

Anyone wanting to contribute may do so via the committee’s web site, at www.ellwoodcityrevitalization.org

Following tomorrow’s meeting, a slide show will be posted on the web site to show phases of the revitalization plan.

According to Franus, the business community Thursday gave the plan, “a standing ovation.”

“There’s such excitement in the air for change,” Bazzichi added.



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