Susq Boro gets look at town redesign

BY STACI WILSON

 

Susquehanna Depot’s Borough Council got its first look at conceptual plans and renderings for a potential, future downtown revitalization streetscape project.

Drew Sonntag, of Urban Research Development Corporation (URDC) presented the conceptual drawings at the Wednesday, June 13 council meeting.

Sonntag said the images showed “what could be” in the borough with goals of retaining and growing businesses, building on historical and eco-tourism.

The conceptual plan outlines a redesign of Erie Blvd. with a better defined street; moving the memorial to a spot across from the borough building; and adding sidewalks, street lighting and landscaping.

“The design would link the lower area with Main St. to make one cohesive downtown,” Sonntag told council.

The design also outlines potential façade improvements that would bring attention to the architectural details on the downtown’s historic buildings.

The URDC design also offered that the retaining wall (located between Erie Blvd. and Main St.) had been maintained well but doesn’t “say anything about the community.”

Sonntag suggested the borough use that available space to install murals from local artists. The murals, he said, could illustrate historical and natural features of the community and be placed on removable panels.

The plan also targets a “big feature” in the town – the water tower. It could be painted, Sonntag said, in borough colors with “Susquehanna” painted on it so it “stands out in a big way.”

The conceptual plan is useful for applying for available grants if the borough opts to move ahead with any or all of the proposed improvements. Grants for the project could be applied for in phases, or as a whole.

Margaret Biegert said the goal is to come up with plan for the borough that ties together the Ira Reynolds Riverfront Park project, downtown revitalization, as well as potential heritage and eco-tourism.

Council President Roy Williams said the ideas were “very good,” and said he would like to meet with council to go over the conceptual design in more details and no action on the plan was taken at the meeting.

Williams has been recognized by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs with a Distinguished Service award. He was nominated by borough secretary Ann Stewart who noted his volunteer work on borough projects and with borough departments; as well as serving as the code officer; and efforts to bring the Riverfront Park project to fruition. “His love for this borough is endless,” Stewart wrote in her nomination letter.

Williams was only one of 10 to receive the award.

At the meeting, council members also heard from Joe DeMuro of Wolfbain Productions who was requesting permission to film a movie with the borough serving as the backdrop to the horror film.

DeMuro promised he would show Susquehanna in “the best possible way.”

The company’s first movie – Tales of Dracula – was filmed in the Binghamton, N.Y. area, including Roberson Mansion.

Council members also discussed the borough sign that was installed late last year, but was not working until February due to an installation error, they said. The sign worked for only a few months, members reported, and quit working again after some rain storms. The company is not returning the borough’s phone calls, Williams said, who is working to get the issue resolved.

A public meeting regarding the Ira Reynolds Riverfront Park will be held on Friday, June 22, 6 p.m., at the fire hall.

Williams said information about the park project, including what River Bounty is doing regarding the dam, will be presented at the meeting.

Two warning signs have been erected about 200-feet upstream from the breached dam, on both sides of the river. One sign is located on the walking path near the dam, warning people not to trespass on the dam. Another sign will also be located about 100-feet downstream.

Williams said buoys may also need to be placed to ensure boaters see the signs.

Susquehanna Borough Council meets on the second Tuesday of each  month at 6 p.m., in the borough building on Erie Blvd.