Erie Ambassador Program: Session 7 – Downtown Development

The seventh session of the Erie Ambassador program found us in a conference room the Erie Intermodal Transportation Center to learn about planned development for the bayfront and downtown areas. We heard from Brian Weber, of the Weber, Murphy, Fox architectural firm, Nick Scott, Jr. from Scott Enterprises, and John Buchna of the Erie Downtown Partnership. We learned about Scott Enterprises’ plans for the bayfront Harbor Place and took a tour of downtown Erie aboard an EMTA trolley.

Scott Enterprises Plans Harbor Place

Scott Enterprises acquired the three-parcel, former Penelec bayfront property, east of State Street, around 15 years ago. The Scotts first considered building a hotel on the site around six or seven years ago, then thought about mixed-use development. The recession delayed any movement forward until now.

The overarching approach for the project is sustainable development, in which the developers’ needs are balanced with the community’s. Goals include increased pedestrian access, public space, and density.

The final plan includes two hotels, 100,000-square feet of office space, retail space, a waterfront restaurant, an activity center, parking garages, and residential development for low, medium, and high-income occupants.

A pedestrian bridge is planned that would allow access to the bayfront from French Street via the UPMC Hamot campus. A consulting firm said there needs to be a better connection from the downtown area to the bayfront.

Nick Scott, Jr., said that the $150 million project will be completed in phases, with a hotel being the first structure built. Once complete, the developed area will mean $400,000 in annual real estate taxes and hundreds of new jobs.

Erie Downtown Partnership Assists Revitalization Efforts

In existence for 10 years, the Erie Downtown Partnership is a nonprofit with a mission to assist in the revitalization of Erie. Its territory encompasses the bayfront to 14^th Street and from Sassafras to Holland. The organization receives its funding from downtown businesses and operates four volunteer-based committees.

After an overview by John Buchna, Erie Downtown Partnership CEO, we boarded an EMTA BayLiner trolley for a tour of the downtown area. The trolley offers free transportation on its routes. So, although the Partnership endeavors to make the area more walkable, there is also the option of hopping on and off a trolley.

Here are some highlights from the trolley tour.

• Griswold – The former Griswold Post Office building continues to stand, having been sold in 2010 to Erie lawyer, Andrew Sisinni. This historic landmark now houses office space for tenants, including the IRS. It might soon feature an open-air market as well.
• Mercantile Building – The five-story, 49,000-square foot Mercantile Building, a former blighted property, is nearly at capacity now, with only one current vacancy.
• Cloud Nine – A new tapas-style restaurant and wine bar, called Cloud Nine, will be opening soon at 10^th & State. It will offer local, organic, and sustainable food and wine.
• Sushi and Asian Cuisine – A generic-sounding restaurant name, but this eatery is actually owned by a former Wegmans sushi chef.
• Under the Clock – This restaurant, which was located in the old Boston Store building, has closed and sold its liquor license to Scott Enterprises. So, its future as a restaurant is unlikely, because that license will probably be used for the bayfront project.
• Perry Square – Plans include tearing down the gazebo and building stages on either end of the west side to enable larger-sized events.
• Jerry Uht Park – Now nearly 20-years old, renovations are on the horizon. as Erie has applied for $12 million in state funds.
• McDonalds – This fast food restaurant, at 5^th & State, is scheduled for renovations.
• Awnings were installed on businesses between 4^th and 5^th streets.
• The former GAF property on the bayfront is under the guidance of the Bayfront Place Remediation Project for a $47 million development project.
• The Color Run, scheduled for August 9, 2014, is sold out. It will bring 10,000 people to Perry Square.

We have learned so much about our home by participating in the Erie Ambassador Program. I can’t believe that we only have two sessions left, a Presque Isle tour with the Port Authority and Coast Guard, a session on tourism, and then, graduation!

Ann Silverthorn (Twitter: @annsilverthorn)  is a versatile blogger who’s written about a wide variety of topics in a vast number of genres. She’s a proven writer on technology topics, in addition to travel, creative, and grant writing. Ann is currently working on a biography on the life of William E. Dimorier (1871-1951), the nearly forgotten poet and assistant principal of Academy High School in Erie, PA, who dedicated his life to the betterment of young people. Dimorier’s story will demonstrate how this man of humble beginnings positively influenced many lives around the world.