Two buildings to come down for parking lot

SHARON, Pa. -- The city plans to tap $237,500 in federal grants to tear down two dilapidated buildings at East State Street and Sharpsville Avenue and put in a parking lot.
City council approved the plan Thursday.
The city plans to divert $237,500 in federal Community Development Block Grants for the project, if the U.S. Department of Housing & amp; Urban Development, which runs the CDBG program, approves the change.
One stipulation is that the parking lot must be accessible to anyone in the city, not any particular business or group of businesses, Fisher said.
The plan is to use $187,500 to raze the vacant, multistory commercial buildings at 200-204 and 212 E. State St. The remaining $50,000 would be used to build a parking lot and small park.
Businessman James E. Winner Jr. said the city needs greenery at that location and announced that, if the city builds a park there, he will put a fountain in it.
Fisher said the plan does call for a small park with benches and perhaps a bus stop shelter.