NEWS ADVISORY
Executive Cunningham to tout Main Street Façade Program
Will discuss this year’s successes and kick-off program for next year
840 Hamilton Street, Suite 205 – Allentown, PA 18101
MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Michael Schlossberg
484-809-1796
Façade Program shows State, County, Chamber commitment to urban reinvestment
Coopersburg, PA (November 30) – The Borough Business Revitalization Program will be holding a press conference to discuss this year’s Façade Program and unveil the program for next year. The Façade Program is a 1-1 matching grant program (up to $5,000) whereby private citizens can apply to make exterior improvements to their property. The program is eligible to properties within the downtown districts of participating communities. This year, 37 properties were awarded Façade Grants.
Speakers at the event will be:
· Michael Schlossberg, Borough Business Revitalization Coordinator, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
· William Jacobs, President of ASERT, LLC, recipient of a Façade Grant
· Tony Ianelli, President & CEO, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
· Brian Jeremiah, Department of Community and Economic Development, Pennsylvania
· Don Cunningham, Lehigh County Executive
The press conference will be held on Monday, December 10, 10:00 AM at ASERT, LLC (110 N. Main Street, Coopersburg). ASERT is the recipient of a $5,000 grant that allowed for the entire property to be painted.
Media coverage is strongly encouraged.
The Borough Business Revitalization Program is a regional Main Street Program. It is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Lehigh & Northampton counties, the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and the nine participating Boroughs: Alburtis, Bangor, Bath, Catasauqua, Coopersburg, Hellertown, Macungie, North Catasauqua and Wilson. The goal of the program is to revitalize the urban cores of the participating communities.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Macungie Holiday
NEWS RELEASE
Macungie to hold annual Macungie Holiday
Event will showcase Macungie Main Street and Parks
21 Locust Street – Macungie, PA 18062
MEDIA ADVISORY
Macungie to hold annual Macungie Holiday
Event will showcase Macungie Main Street and Parks
21 Locust Street – Macungie, PA 18062
MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Michael Schlossberg
484-809-1796
Annual festival to be held once again
Macungie, PA (November 30) – Mike Schlossberg, Macungie Business Revitalization Coordinator, has announced that the Macungie Holiday will be held once again this year. “The Holiday is a great way to promote the outstanding merchants of Main Street Macungie, as well as the Borough’s civic spirit, parks system and cultural assets,” said Schlossberg. “It is a great way for families to celebrate the holidays.” The Holiday is a joint activity that is organized by the Macungie Institute, Borough of Macungie, Macungie Business Revitalization Program, Macungie 150th Anniversary Committee, Macungie Business Owners Association and many more.
A series of events will be held throughout the day, including:
· Free Trolley and Mini Bus rides throughout the borough.
· Horse-drawn wagon rides through the Macungie Memorial park.
· Holiday crafts and vendors show at the Macungie Institute.
· “Candyland Station” display at the Macungie Flower Park.
· Breakfast with Santa at the Grace Lutheran Church.
· Decorated Santa hats and a party with Santa at the Macungie Fire Department.
· Free coffee, tea, chocolate and cookies, as well as free Christmas ornaments for children to make and Nativity Scenes from around the world at the Macungie Baptist Church.
· Homemade chili, baked goods & beverages at the Macungie Institute (sponsored by Solomon’s UCC)
· Open house with the Macungie Historical Society.
· Decorative Hand Made Tile show and Sale featuring the work of Ann Bartges (226 E. Main Street)
· Artisan display and sale at 20 W. Main Street.
· Gingerbread display and face painting at Kalmbach Memorial Park.
· Refreshments, snacks, a light lunch and vendors will be at the Macungie Rod & Gun Club.
· The Boy Scouts will showcase their totem pole project & historic trains display at the Macungie Institute.
There will also be a borough-wide scavenger hunt with prizes (for both kids and adults). Over twenty stores and organizations are participating in the event. Furthermore, numerous stores throughout the Borough will feature special sales, promotions and giveaways.
Opening ceremonies (including a special ringing of the Town Clock chimes), will be held on Saturday, December 8, 9:00 AM at the Macungie Institute (510 Main Street, Macungie).
Media coverage is strongly encouraged.
484-809-1796
Annual festival to be held once again
Macungie, PA (November 30) – Mike Schlossberg, Macungie Business Revitalization Coordinator, has announced that the Macungie Holiday will be held once again this year. “The Holiday is a great way to promote the outstanding merchants of Main Street Macungie, as well as the Borough’s civic spirit, parks system and cultural assets,” said Schlossberg. “It is a great way for families to celebrate the holidays.” The Holiday is a joint activity that is organized by the Macungie Institute, Borough of Macungie, Macungie Business Revitalization Program, Macungie 150th Anniversary Committee, Macungie Business Owners Association and many more.
A series of events will be held throughout the day, including:
· Free Trolley and Mini Bus rides throughout the borough.
· Horse-drawn wagon rides through the Macungie Memorial park.
· Holiday crafts and vendors show at the Macungie Institute.
· “Candyland Station” display at the Macungie Flower Park.
· Breakfast with Santa at the Grace Lutheran Church.
· Decorated Santa hats and a party with Santa at the Macungie Fire Department.
· Free coffee, tea, chocolate and cookies, as well as free Christmas ornaments for children to make and Nativity Scenes from around the world at the Macungie Baptist Church.
· Homemade chili, baked goods & beverages at the Macungie Institute (sponsored by Solomon’s UCC)
· Open house with the Macungie Historical Society.
· Decorative Hand Made Tile show and Sale featuring the work of Ann Bartges (226 E. Main Street)
· Artisan display and sale at 20 W. Main Street.
· Gingerbread display and face painting at Kalmbach Memorial Park.
· Refreshments, snacks, a light lunch and vendors will be at the Macungie Rod & Gun Club.
· The Boy Scouts will showcase their totem pole project & historic trains display at the Macungie Institute.
There will also be a borough-wide scavenger hunt with prizes (for both kids and adults). Over twenty stores and organizations are participating in the event. Furthermore, numerous stores throughout the Borough will feature special sales, promotions and giveaways.
Opening ceremonies (including a special ringing of the Town Clock chimes), will be held on Saturday, December 8, 9:00 AM at the Macungie Institute (510 Main Street, Macungie).
Media coverage is strongly encouraged.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Transition, Change and your Main Street Program
I have some interesting information that was given to me by Geoff Brace, Eastern Regional Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Downtown Center. It pertains to Main Street committees and their evolution.
If you volunteer for a Main Street program, I'm sure that you know that this is not an overnight process. Urban revitalization takes a long time and requires years to be truly effective. In the short-term, it may seem like nothing is happening. In the long run, however, a properly executed Main Street revitalization effort can completely change your downtown.
Below are the three distinct phases of Main Street programs. This information is particularly interesting to me, given the timing of our BBRP program. We are only a few months into our third year, which is right on the cusp of the two phases. See below for more information...
Catalyst Phase: The organization is first created. During this phase, the organization learnes basic revitalization skills, builds collaborative partnerships and establishes a credible presence in the comminity (Years 1 - 4).
Growth Phase: During this phase, most of the major activities of the organization take place. Major renovation projects take place as well (Years 3-8).
Management Phase: With most of the major activities completed, the major activity of the organization becomes the maintenance already realized gains. The group constantly monitors the marketplace and helps the district make the necessary economic adjustments. It ensures that the district is well maintained and continues to stimulate physical improvements and economic innovations (Years 8 and beyond).
If you volunteer for a Main Street program, I'm sure that you know that this is not an overnight process. Urban revitalization takes a long time and requires years to be truly effective. In the short-term, it may seem like nothing is happening. In the long run, however, a properly executed Main Street revitalization effort can completely change your downtown.
Below are the three distinct phases of Main Street programs. This information is particularly interesting to me, given the timing of our BBRP program. We are only a few months into our third year, which is right on the cusp of the two phases. See below for more information...
Catalyst Phase: The organization is first created. During this phase, the organization learnes basic revitalization skills, builds collaborative partnerships and establishes a credible presence in the comminity (Years 1 - 4).
Growth Phase: During this phase, most of the major activities of the organization take place. Major renovation projects take place as well (Years 3-8).
Management Phase: With most of the major activities completed, the major activity of the organization becomes the maintenance already realized gains. The group constantly monitors the marketplace and helps the district make the necessary economic adjustments. It ensures that the district is well maintained and continues to stimulate physical improvements and economic innovations (Years 8 and beyond).
Thursday, November 1, 2007
How Much Parking Does Your Main Street Have? The Answer May Surprise You
One of the CONSTANT problems that I have run into during my time as a Main Street Coordinator is parking. Many residents and business owners on Main Streets are convinenced that there is no enough parking available on Main Street.
It's understandable why so many people may think that. After all, when Main Streets were first built, they were meant to accomidate horses and carraiges - not exactly automobiles with parking lots. However, as our society has become more auto-dependant, parking has obviously become more of an issue. The structure of buildings and streets have changed.
A perfect example of this is Hamilton Boulevard. First, think of 9th and Hamilton in Allentown. Street parking is available and parking lots are placed in the back of buildings. As a result, buildings are closer to the sidewalk and the entire area is very pedestrian friendly. These streets are build to encourage pedestrian traffic.
Now go west down the same street into Upper Macungie. Suddenly, buildings are hundreds of feet back from the curb. The speed limit has increased, there are five lanes for traffic and sidewalks are either not used or non-existant. Parking lots are in the front of buildings and always have far more spaces then necessary. These areas were build to encourage vehicular traffic.
As a result, the perception exists that Main Streets do not have adequate parking to meet the needs of its businesses and residents. But here is the question: how accurate is that perception?
In Alburtis, David Kutzor (Chair of the Alburtis Business Revitalization Committee) completed a parking study. Dave counted every parking space available within the Main Street area (Main and Franklin Streets and all streets within one block of this area) for businesses, residents and parking lots.
Within this space, there are 59 properties. For these 59 properties, there are 430 parking spaces. In other wrods, for every property, there are roughly six parking spaces. The conclusion is that there is more than enough parking for businesses and residents.
Kind of interesting, don't you think?
It's understandable why so many people may think that. After all, when Main Streets were first built, they were meant to accomidate horses and carraiges - not exactly automobiles with parking lots. However, as our society has become more auto-dependant, parking has obviously become more of an issue. The structure of buildings and streets have changed.
A perfect example of this is Hamilton Boulevard. First, think of 9th and Hamilton in Allentown. Street parking is available and parking lots are placed in the back of buildings. As a result, buildings are closer to the sidewalk and the entire area is very pedestrian friendly. These streets are build to encourage pedestrian traffic.
Now go west down the same street into Upper Macungie. Suddenly, buildings are hundreds of feet back from the curb. The speed limit has increased, there are five lanes for traffic and sidewalks are either not used or non-existant. Parking lots are in the front of buildings and always have far more spaces then necessary. These areas were build to encourage vehicular traffic.
As a result, the perception exists that Main Streets do not have adequate parking to meet the needs of its businesses and residents. But here is the question: how accurate is that perception?
In Alburtis, David Kutzor (Chair of the Alburtis Business Revitalization Committee) completed a parking study. Dave counted every parking space available within the Main Street area (Main and Franklin Streets and all streets within one block of this area) for businesses, residents and parking lots.
Within this space, there are 59 properties. For these 59 properties, there are 430 parking spaces. In other wrods, for every property, there are roughly six parking spaces. The conclusion is that there is more than enough parking for businesses and residents.
Kind of interesting, don't you think?
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