Community Visioning Sessions: Locals planning 'greater'
Johnstown
By Frank Sojak
Tribune-Democrat
The Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership on Monday evening moved from gauging public interest in a revitalized downtown to coming up with a blueprint to do just that.
Monday night, business people and residents from Johnstown and surrounding municipalities started melding ideas with those of others with the goal of making downtown Johnstown come alive again.
"I think everything went well," said Jeff Philibin, Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership president.
More than 125 people met to discuss the plans at the Pasquerilla Conference Center, 301 Napoleon St., Johnstown.
The partnership is working to launch a Main Street program to boost business activity downtown for young and old alike and for residents from Johnstown and surrounding towns.
"We want it to be a community effort," Philibin said. He aims to bring people from Johnstown and the suburbs together to create a viable downtown Johnstown.
Philibin said the partnership and its network of volunteers from businesses, organizations and the community are preparing a plan so that it can submit a Main Street application to the state.
If the application is approved, the state would provide money to help the city with its dream.
In the meantime, Philibin said, the partnership isn't waiting.
He said members will work on projects that don't cost money, such as cleanup projects and sprucing up empty storefronts.
Diane Wilson, manager of the Northwest Savings Bank in downtown Johnstown, said at the meeting that residents are determined.
"It's exciting," she said as she manned her bank's booth at the session, the fourth so far. "I think we are headed in the right direction."
Michele DiGuardi, executive director of Beginnings Inc., an early intervention program for children in downtown Johnstown, said the organization is excited about the future for the downtown and wants to be a part of it.
Pat Rok, manager of the two downtown branches of First National Bank, said her bank sponsored a booth to inform people about what they have to offer.
She said the plans to revitalize Johnstown would be great.
Johnstown Mayor Thomas Trigona said at the meeting that the partnership's goal to revitalize the downtown is wonderful.
"The talking is over," he said. "Let's do what it takes to revitalize the downtown."
Councilman Frank Jana-kovic said he would like to see more recreation areas in the downtown for youngsters.
Councilman Bill Neatrour said he wants more housing downtown, saying it will lead to more businesses opening to serve residents.
That's what Alonzo Vance of Johnstown and his partner, Kevin Bush of Washington, D.C., have in mind.
Vance said they are planning to turn the former Dempsey's tavern on the lower end of Main Street into a restaurant, pub, office and residential complex.
He said the downtown needs more restaurants to complement those already in business.
Larry Blalock, who with his wife, Chris, owns Blalock Electric Services in Woodvale and is a partner in the Park Building in downtown Johnstown, said downtowns have an exciting community atmosphere and Johnstown is no different.
The couple said they attended the "visioning" meetings because they want to see the "city come alive."
Get serious about Johnstown
Editorial
Tribune-Democrat
Chapter one of the story of Johnstown's turnaround concluded Monday evening with the final "visioning" meeting sponsored by Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership.
But how will this story proceed?
Much momentum has been generated through four sessions, at which community members brainstormed about the city they'd like to see in five and 10 years, and beyond.
The effort is likely headed toward a Main Street program in downtown Johnstown.
Already, volunteers are targeting potential improvements that can be made, programs that can be initiated, others who should be included in the process. Led by Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership, those volunteers are developing answers to four critical questions:
According to its Web site, Main Street offers "a comprehensive approach that rural and urban communities alike can use to revitalize their traditional commercial areas through historic preservation and grassroots-based economic development."
That's a fancy way of saying that we need to take our current attributes - history, culture, good people - and make them the cornerstones for bringing economic revitalization to Johnstown.
Suzanne Gagliardo, western regional program services coordinator with Pennsylvania Downtown Center, told Monday's gathering: "You've got great potential. The question is: How do you take all these ideas and put them to work?"
It will take hard work and commitment. That much is clear.
But those qualities already have been evident as the push to improve downtown Johnstown has moved to this point.
We applaud those who have put this program together - experts at Pennsylvania Downtown Center, board members with the Partnership and local civic leaders.
We also applaud those who have attended the "visioning" sessions and made them fruitful. Much has been accomplished, and that is because so many people - on average 100 each month - have given their time, their energy and their ideas to the effort.
And now the real work starts.
If Johnstown is to enlist with the more than 80 Pennsylvania communities in the Main Street program, the momentum built through the visioning process must be maintained and expanded.
Others must join the parade, contributing their skills and experience.
And we must all look to the future with open minds.
If we do, we just might make a difference.
And that is something we can all get pumped up about.
"It doesn't have to look like it looks. It doesn't have to be what it is," said Partnership president Jeff Philibin. "It can be something different."
Visioning group ready to adopt final statement
By Mike Faher
Tribune-Democrat
This week, a group of residents, officials and business owners will complete a vision for downtown Johnstown's future.
Then they will set about trying to make that vision a reality.
The fourth and final planning session led by Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership is scheduled for Tuesday night. The previous three meetings have drawn an average of more than 100 people.
"We've already made progress," partnership President Jeff Philibin said. "We're very proud of that, while realizing that it's just the beginning."
The group's goal is to land a Main Street program, which could bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in state cash to the city along with a full-time downtown manager.
The partnership had to lay the appropriate groundwork before submitting a Main Street application to the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Hence the "visioning" sessions, which will culminate Tuesday with adoption of a final vision statement.
It essentially is a blueprint for development and improvement of the downtown area.
This week's meeting also will include other activities:
The downtown partnership's next step will be applying for acceptance into the Main Street program. Bill Fontana, Pennsylvania Downtown Center director, said it may take the state a few months to process that application.
The program dictates that Johnstown raise $90,000 in matching funds over five years.
But in exchange, the state would send $175,000 for administrative costs during the same time period.
In addition, state officials offer up to $120,000 for facade improvements. And Fontana said other grants are available.
Fontana added that he is encouraged by the enthusiasm of those who have participated in the planning process.
"People really seem to be interested," he said. "People invested their time."
By Frank Sojak
Tribune-Democrat
The Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership on Monday evening moved from gauging public interest in a revitalized downtown to coming up with a blueprint to do just that.
Monday night, business people and residents from Johnstown and surrounding municipalities started melding ideas with those of others with the goal of making downtown Johnstown come alive again.
"I think everything went well," said Jeff Philibin, Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership president.
More than 125 people met to discuss the plans at the Pasquerilla Conference Center, 301 Napoleon St., Johnstown.
The partnership is working to launch a Main Street program to boost business activity downtown for young and old alike and for residents from Johnstown and surrounding towns.
"We want it to be a community effort," Philibin said. He aims to bring people from Johnstown and the suburbs together to create a viable downtown Johnstown.
Philibin said the partnership and its network of volunteers from businesses, organizations and the community are preparing a plan so that it can submit a Main Street application to the state.
If the application is approved, the state would provide money to help the city with its dream.
In the meantime, Philibin said, the partnership isn't waiting.
He said members will work on projects that don't cost money, such as cleanup projects and sprucing up empty storefronts.
Diane Wilson, manager of the Northwest Savings Bank in downtown Johnstown, said at the meeting that residents are determined.
"It's exciting," she said as she manned her bank's booth at the session, the fourth so far. "I think we are headed in the right direction."
Michele DiGuardi, executive director of Beginnings Inc., an early intervention program for children in downtown Johnstown, said the organization is excited about the future for the downtown and wants to be a part of it.
Pat Rok, manager of the two downtown branches of First National Bank, said her bank sponsored a booth to inform people about what they have to offer.
She said the plans to revitalize Johnstown would be great.
Johnstown Mayor Thomas Trigona said at the meeting that the partnership's goal to revitalize the downtown is wonderful.
"The talking is over," he said. "Let's do what it takes to revitalize the downtown."
Councilman Frank Jana-kovic said he would like to see more recreation areas in the downtown for youngsters.
Councilman Bill Neatrour said he wants more housing downtown, saying it will lead to more businesses opening to serve residents.
That's what Alonzo Vance of Johnstown and his partner, Kevin Bush of Washington, D.C., have in mind.
Vance said they are planning to turn the former Dempsey's tavern on the lower end of Main Street into a restaurant, pub, office and residential complex.
He said the downtown needs more restaurants to complement those already in business.
Larry Blalock, who with his wife, Chris, owns Blalock Electric Services in Woodvale and is a partner in the Park Building in downtown Johnstown, said downtowns have an exciting community atmosphere and Johnstown is no different.
The couple said they attended the "visioning" meetings because they want to see the "city come alive."
Get serious about Johnstown
Editorial
Tribune-Democrat
Chapter one of the story of Johnstown's turnaround concluded Monday evening with the final "visioning" meeting sponsored by Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership.
But how will this story proceed?
Much momentum has been generated through four sessions, at which community members brainstormed about the city they'd like to see in five and 10 years, and beyond.
The effort is likely headed toward a Main Street program in downtown Johnstown.
Already, volunteers are targeting potential improvements that can be made, programs that can be initiated, others who should be included in the process. Led by Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership, those volunteers are developing answers to four critical questions:
- How should this effort be funded and organized going forward?
- What economic factors - businesses, property owners, taxpayers, government agencies, consumers - should fuel the project?
- What upgrades must be accomplished to make the plan successful?
- How should the effort be promoted - both locally and to those outside the Johnstown region?
According to its Web site, Main Street offers "a comprehensive approach that rural and urban communities alike can use to revitalize their traditional commercial areas through historic preservation and grassroots-based economic development."
That's a fancy way of saying that we need to take our current attributes - history, culture, good people - and make them the cornerstones for bringing economic revitalization to Johnstown.
Suzanne Gagliardo, western regional program services coordinator with Pennsylvania Downtown Center, told Monday's gathering: "You've got great potential. The question is: How do you take all these ideas and put them to work?"
It will take hard work and commitment. That much is clear.
But those qualities already have been evident as the push to improve downtown Johnstown has moved to this point.
We applaud those who have put this program together - experts at Pennsylvania Downtown Center, board members with the Partnership and local civic leaders.
We also applaud those who have attended the "visioning" sessions and made them fruitful. Much has been accomplished, and that is because so many people - on average 100 each month - have given their time, their energy and their ideas to the effort.
And now the real work starts.
If Johnstown is to enlist with the more than 80 Pennsylvania communities in the Main Street program, the momentum built through the visioning process must be maintained and expanded.
Others must join the parade, contributing their skills and experience.
And we must all look to the future with open minds.
If we do, we just might make a difference.
And that is something we can all get pumped up about.
"It doesn't have to look like it looks. It doesn't have to be what it is," said Partnership president Jeff Philibin. "It can be something different."
Visioning group ready to adopt final statement
By Mike Faher
Tribune-Democrat
This week, a group of residents, officials and business owners will complete a vision for downtown Johnstown's future.
Then they will set about trying to make that vision a reality.
The fourth and final planning session led by Discover Downtown Johnstown Partnership is scheduled for Tuesday night. The previous three meetings have drawn an average of more than 100 people.
"We've already made progress," partnership President Jeff Philibin said. "We're very proud of that, while realizing that it's just the beginning."
The group's goal is to land a Main Street program, which could bring hundreds of thousands of dollars in state cash to the city along with a full-time downtown manager.
The partnership had to lay the appropriate groundwork before submitting a Main Street application to the state Department of Community and Economic Development.
Hence the "visioning" sessions, which will culminate Tuesday with adoption of a final vision statement.
It essentially is a blueprint for development and improvement of the downtown area.
This week's meeting also will include other activities:
- Developing ideas for a "five-year action strategy" based on the vision statement.
- Unveiling preliminary artist renderings showing how a revitalized downtown might look.
- Browsing displays set up by existing businesses that have accepted invitations to the meeting.
The downtown partnership's next step will be applying for acceptance into the Main Street program. Bill Fontana, Pennsylvania Downtown Center director, said it may take the state a few months to process that application.
The program dictates that Johnstown raise $90,000 in matching funds over five years.
But in exchange, the state would send $175,000 for administrative costs during the same time period.
In addition, state officials offer up to $120,000 for facade improvements. And Fontana said other grants are available.
Fontana added that he is encouraged by the enthusiasm of those who have participated in the planning process.
"People really seem to be interested," he said. "People invested their time."
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