SHARON Despite opposition, council moves to rename city street

Families living on the street are opposed to the name change.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- City council's plan to name a street after Sharon native Rebecca Koborie, who died in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, has hit a snag.
Councilman Lou Rotunno proposed last month that Trumbull Drive, where she grew up and her parents still live, be renamed Becky Koborie Lane.
He said he checked the idea out with her father, John Koborie, who liked the idea.
The other five families living on that short street oppose the plan, however.
Councilman Ray Fabian quoted Thursday from a letter the five households sent to council.
The homeowners are all over the age of 65 and don't want to be put through the hassle of having to change their address on all of their legal documents as well as credit card and other accounts, he said.
Rotunno, noting the city has changed the names of other streets before, said the plan should go through.
"I couldn't imagine anyone being opposed to it," he said.
"I think it's a shame that it's a controversy," said council president Fred Hoffman.
It was he who suggested at last month's meeting that the other residents of the street be contacted to see if there are any objections to renaming the street.
Despite the opposition, council voted 4-0, with George Gulla absent, to pass the first of two required readings of an ordinance enacting the change.
The final vote will come at the November council meeting.
Application for grant
In other business, council approved an application for a U.S. Community Development Block Grant that will be used to finance an urban renewal project on the east side of the downtown business district.
The grant application seeks $844,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing & amp; Urban Development in new funds and permission to use $90,000 in funds earned off loans made out of previous CDBG budgets for a variety of projects.
Topping the list is $237,500 earmarked for the demolition of two large buildings on the southwest corner of East State Street and Sharpsville Avenue, said Rosette Fisher, city community development director.
The plan is to acquire and tear down the vacant, dilapidated structures and use the land as a parking lot for a third, adjacent building at East State and Dock streets.
That building, which housed law offices, is in good shape but is vacant, Fisher said.
It has no parking area, however, and making parking available will help the city attract a developer for that structure, Fisher said, adding that the developer would have to promise to create at least seven jobs with the project.
Rotunno asked why the property owners aren't responsible for tearing down their own buildings.
Mayor David O. Ryan said there are thousands of dollars in back taxes owed on both and one of the owners is willing to just give his building to the city.
The city may have to condemn and raze the other, he said.
A recent downtown revitalization study suggested those two buildings be torn down and replaced by a small park with a fountain and some off-street parking.
In addition to the urban renewal project, the grant will pay for housing rehabilitation, street improvements and a first-time homebuyer's program.
gwin@vindy.com