Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
PARTNERS ON PROJECTS
Several municipalities pitch in to aid Coatesville revitalization
COATESVILLE » Sonia Huntzinger, of non-profit 2nd Century Alliance, is thrilled that three municipalities are working together with revitalization plans.
“Regional partnerships like this are vitally important, as smaller municipalities struggle financially,” Huntzinger said. “The more local governments can find ways to share resources and partner, the better they can serve their respective constituencies.
“So we hope that this partnership on this particular project paves the way for broader discussions on ways the three municipalities – and others - can work together in the future.”
The City of Coatesville, the Borough of South Coatesville and Valley Township have forged an alliance. The municipalities met Thursday during a virtual meeting to discuss bringing jobs and economic opportunity to the area.
The partnership came together to create a Chester County Planning Commission sponsored “micro-regional” study presented by Todd Poole of 4Ward Planning.
Key to much of the plans is the construction of a new Amtrak/SEPTA train station at 4th Avenue and Fleetwood Street. Bids will go out this fall; construction might start in the spring, with two or three years set aside for construction.
“Transit Oriented Development” of the Central Business District, including especially new housing construction, will support investments in restaurants and retail, reads the study.
“The train station and new housing will spur retail – it has been proven around the country,” Poole said about the Lincoln Highway Corridor an area of about a quarter-mile radius, and five to 10 minute walk, from the station.
Construction of one-story starter and 55-plus housing in a park like environment, at the “Flats,” north of the viaduct was also suggested, as well as regional expansion of the multipurpose recreational River Walk trail.
“It would bring people into the park and make a neighborhood asset,” said Sean Garrigan, a sub-contractor with 4Ward Planning.
Personal service businesses, such as barber shops and salons, and affordable casual dining such as take-out service including pizza and Italian restaurants, Chinese restaurants and diners, will likely find the greatest success early in the post pandemic recovery and near the new train station.
The study, however, was not merely about economic growth in the City, but the surrounding areas as well.
Valley Township might capture light manufacturing and small-scale warehousing from local business owners. With increased social distancing, the report reads, a greater share of consumers might maintain online purchasing for everyday needs, long after the lockdown measures have ceased.
An uptick of brick and mortar retail in Valley might also be created.
South Coatesville is prime for recreation and entertainment investment.
Sean Garrigan, a subconsultant with 4Ward Planning, said that South Coatesville stakeholders will try to look at some unique areas to take advantage of large open areas.
A BMX track would attract not just locals but riders and spectators from all over the mid-Atlantic region.
“It doesn’t require an enormous amount of investment and it might not be permanent,” Garrigan said.
Also suggested was indoor hydroponic farming.
And maybe even a drive-in movie theater would capture a nostalgic spike in popularity.
A collaboration among the three municipalities could help to create popup event space. Seasonal festivals and other thematic activities that generate significant foot traffic were suggested.
“Creating hip/funky event spaces that link various recreational/social programming activities with commercial enterprises, especially foodbased, can support efforts to foster new economic vitality throughout the area,” according to the study.
Video of Thursday’s presentation can be found on Coatesville’s YouTube channel and the 2nd Century Alliance Facebook page.