DOWNTOWN DISTRICT Sharon to seek funds for revitalization

The city is using projects at PSU Shenango as the local match for state funds.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- The city plans to take advantage of an offer of $1.5 million in state funds to launch a revitalization of the downtown business district.
Gov. Ed Rendell brought a mock check to town in August, saying the money has been set aside for three projects -- a pedestrian footbridge across the Shenango River from Porter Way to Silver Street; street and sidewalk improvements along Porter Way from State Street to the bridge site; and street and sidewalk improvements on Shenango Avenue from State Street to the Penn State Shenango Campus.
City council voted Thursday to file a formal application seeking release of the money.
Mayor David O. Ryan said all three projects are directly linked to Penn State Shenango because the city is using Penn State money as the local match for the state grant.
Sharon doesn't have $1.5 million of its own to make the match, but the state has approved a plan to use $1.8 million Penn State is spending on renovating its Lecture Hall n Shenango Avenue as that match, the mayor said.
Campus improvements
Dr. Thomas Rookey, campus executive officer, said a total of $9 million in campus improvements are planned and Penn State hopes the city can use all of those funds to match state grants.
Councilman Darin Flower had some reservations about building the footbridge, questioning how the projects were selected.
All three projects were all high on the list of a revitalization study done by E.G. & amp; G. Inc. of Akron in 2002, Ryan said, noting that the public was asked to rank various projects as part of the study.
The study proposed a variety of projects with a total cost of more than $10 million, Ryan said.
The grant will cover estimated construction costs, but the city will have to bear the expense of engineering and design work, expected to cost between $150,000 and $175,000.
That money could be taken from a bond issue borrowed for capital improvement projects, or the city's federal Community Development Block Grant program could be tapped for $75,000 for two years, Ryan said.
The state just won't hand over the money, however.
Sharon has to borrow funds temporarily from a bank or other institution and then get reimbursed as the work progresses, Ryan said.
One member of the audience didn't think much of the footbridge plan.
Ziba Dilley of Fourth Avenue said it was a stupid thing to do and he doesn't know anyone who likes the idea. The money should be spent on other projects to get people downtown, not on a bridge to a parking lot, he told lawmakers.
Jennifer Barborak of Taylor Avenue said the city should take advantage of any state grant money it can get to beautify downtown. Spending $150,000 to get $1.5 million is a good investment, she said, adding that the Penn State offer to use its project money as a city match is a great contribution.