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Centre Daily Times May 19 2005
Bellefonte plans for future
By Mason Neely; For the CDT
"After months of discussion, Bellefonte residents took the final the step forward this week in redefining the future of growth and economic development in the borough.
The result: the Downtown Bellefonte Vision Statement, a document composed from public opinions on issues such as development of the waterfront district and parking and business strategies voiced at the first three sessions in a series of community workshops sponsored by the Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce and Historical Bellefonte Inc.
The statement was formally adopted at Tuesday's workshop, the fourth in the series, by a group of 75 merchants, residents and planners.
Bill Fontana, executive director of the Pennsylvania Downtown Association, the consulting firm hired to oversee the effort, presented the statement, which he praised as a testament to the work of residents to reach a consensus about their home.
Only a few paragraphs, the vision statement defines the borough as a "inviting, historic downtown" with a "vibrant, but leisurely setting," which "enhances the quality of life for the residents of the region."
It also declares Bellefonte the "gateway to a region filled with outstanding outdoor recreation options for residents and tourists alike."
Fontana said that for many residents, the vision of Bellefonte's future reflects an equal reverence for the old and the new -- with words like "exciting," "bustling" and "progressive" finding common ground with "historic," "Victorian" and "quiet."
Though the finished statement marks the end of a process that began in February, Fontana said it's only the beginning of the borough's effort to become part of the commonwealth's Main Street program, which funds revitalization projects throughout the state.
Over the next few months, the BIACC will work to complete the borough's Main Street application. If accepted, planners could receive more than $1 million in state funds during the next year -- money that could be used for everything from building improvements to promotional campaigns.
In order to be considered, the borough will have to project its revitalization plans more than five years into the future, a job that Fontana said is well worth the effort.
At Tuesday's meeting, Fontana wasted no time in getting started, dividing the audience into four groups, each focusing on a critical area to be presented to state officials: economic restructuring of downtown commerce; physical restructuring; marketing; and overall administration.
"It's important for people to understand that the Main Street program deals with all of the elements that impact a community, not just physical things or advertising, but universal issues that are critical to the process of revitalization," he said "It could be huge for this community to be a part of that."
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