Business climate warms with new openings
With several new businesses opening recently in Heidelberg, the borough seems poised for growth, and Town Center Associates, a firm specializing in helping towns create vibrant business districts, has offered its services to the small community.
“We are all about bringing in business, and businesses that will serve your community. We help you to keep the good businesses you have and attract new businesses,” said Mara Dowdy, program director from Town Center, who spoke at the borough council’s January meeting.
Mrs. Dowdy said the borough is in a good position to build on a streetscape project completed in 2014 that refurbished the Route 50 business corridor in Heidelberg with new sidewalks, benches, landscaping and street lights.
“The streetscape helped with the appearance of the business district, which is very important for attracting new business,” she said.
Financed largely though a $2.4 million Department of Transportation grant secured by U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, RUpper St. Clair, the streetscape project included upgrades to Third Street in Carnegie and Carothers Avenue in Scott to create an “urban boulevard” linking the three communities.
Businesses have taken notice and some have decided to openshopinHeidelberg.
Insurrection AleWorks chose Heidelberg for a microbrewery and restaurant that borough council president Carrie Nolan said is busy every weekend. Burgh Bites Brick + Mortar, a restaurant featuringgourmetburgersand pizza, opened last month, and an O’Reilly Auto Parts store is planned at the former BP Station near the intersection of Route 50 and Collier Avenue. The auto parts company is buying two houses to demolish so it can expand the space for the store and parking lot.
Business growth has brought with it increased demand for parking, and the borough recently passed an ordinance to prevent commuters from parking along Route 50 all day then taking buses into town.
“We needed to move the commuter parkers out of town to free up more parking for residents and businesses,” Ms. Nolan said.
Town Center offers an array of services ranging from efforts to attract new businesses to studies on ways to improve the appearance of a business district and help with updating and modernizing zoning ordinances.
The architecture of the buildings, storefronts, signs, lighting and landscaping are all important elements when it comes to making a business district attractive to customers, Mrs. Dowdy said.
“The perception of a community is tied to the condition of the business district. When the business district does well, home values go up as well,” said Mark Peluso, executive director of Town Center.
Town Center has worked with communities in Allegheny County, including Millvale, Carnegie, and Dormont. It has worked with city of Beaver in Beaver County for 15 years on business development andplanning.
“We will look into the resources they can provide the borough,” council president Nolan said, adding that council will be exploring some grant opportunities opening up in June to help pay for the services.