Place-Based
Downtown
Accelerate and advance further developments in downtown Erie
4.1: Launch New EDDC Fund
Investment Overview:
A second EDEF Fund would develop underutilized real estate that exists between the EDDC’s current projects and the investments on the Bayfront. This effort would also leverage the investments by major employers, such as Erie Insurance, UPMC Hamot, and Gannon University. This Fund will build upon the success of EDDC’s first fund in the Downtown.
Goals and Benefits:
- Transform underutilized properties
- Increase city/county/school district revenue
- Create diverse business, employment & housing Opportunities
EDDC Developments:
EDDC will build on its previous work, which include:
- Flagship City Food Hall
- Flagship City Public Market
- 429 State
- The Shops at 5th& State
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: $200,000,000
Uses:
$20M –Acquisition Costs
$40M –Softs Costs
$140M –Construction Costs
Sources:
$50M –EDEF Fund #2
$150M –Leveraged Private & Public Capital (e.g., Opportunity Zones)
Progress and Next Steps:
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Confirm commitments of current and prospective EDEF Members
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Confirm commitment of public capital sources
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Acquire site control of key properties
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Assemble development team
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Develop properties
4.2: Invest in complete streets and new streets
Investment Overview:
The streets in downtown Erie can undergo considerable upgrades. Many of the current streets have excessively wide travel lanes, few street trees, long pedestrian crossing distances, and narrow sidewalks. A series of partial and complete street rebuilds across the downtown, with concrete bike lanes, wider sidewalks, street trees and furnishings, and shorter pedestrian crossings would provide significant practical, aesthetic, and economic benefits to Erie. Outlined in the Downtown Streetscape Master Plan, these improvements have already been planned and are near-ready for construction.
Goals and Benefits:
- Increase opportunities for commercial use with wider sidewalks (e.g., outdoor dining)
- Increase foot traffic by creating more accommodating pedestrian experience by planting street trees, installing benches, building bike lanes and locks, and shortening pedestrian crossings
- Increase quality of life by creating major facelift for streets across downtown
Relevant Examples:
Smarter Streets Initiative (South Bend, IN) is an initiative to create safer, more efficient transportation by creating traffic patterns that better accommodate motorists, transit riders, cyclists and pedestrians
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: $80,050,000
Uses:
$8,580,000 –State St
$2,260,000 –6thSt
$4,070,000 –N/S Park Row
$2,790,000 –12thSt
$13,550,000 –Peach & Sassafrass
$48,800,000 –2nd–5th; 7th–11th
Sources:
PennDotand DCED Multimodal funds, CDBG, TASA, MPO TIP funding
Progress and Next Steps:
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Update Streetscape Plan and to reflect new costs
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Secure remaining funding for needed improvements
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Secure contractors and begin construction
4.3: Expand continuum of care for those experiencing homelessness through structured collaboration (More organizing required)
Investment Overview:
Like in many parts of the country, homelessness has been a growing issue in Erie since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The persistence of this issue in Erie presents several problems. First, it prevents many of Erie’s residents from fulfilling their basic need for shelter. Second, it disincentivizes further growth and development downtown. Finally, it creates a dynamic whereby many of Erie’s residents would not benefit from many of the investments in the city’s future. As a result, finding a lasting solution to this issue is a cornerstone to Erie’s inclusive economic recovery. Stakeholders from Erie’s public, private, and civic sector have recently come together to make several important investments on this issue, including designating units in new developments for homeless residents, conducting intensive research on best practices in homelessness reduction in American cities and interviewing affected populations as well as shelter and service providers. The City of Erie has already committed nearly $3M to this effort in the hopes of leveraging additional philanthropic funding.
Goals and Benefits:
In addition to improving the health, well-being, and economic potential of many Erie residents, substantially reducing homelessness in Erie will ensure that a greater portion of Erie residents can enjoy and benefit from the growing opportunities, assets, and amenities that the city offers. It will also open new parts of Erie’s downtown for further investment and inclusive growth.
Relevant Examples:
3CDC in Cincinnati created a state-of-the-art shelter that was embraced by local service providers
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
Total cost: TBD
Uses: TBD
Sources: TBD
Progress and Next Steps:
Progress:
Convene working group of local service providers, funders, and advocacy groups
Raise initial funding from City and / or philanthropic sources
Conduct research on best practices
Hold focus groups with affected populations, service providers, and others
Next Steps:
Leverage public funding with additional philanthropic funds
Finalize full set of program and strategies
4.4: Accelerate adaptive reuse of key anchor properties on State Street between 9th and 14th streets (More organizing required)
Investment Overview:
With the creation of Erie Insurance’s new campus and several other downtown redevelopment projects, State Street south of Perry Square has considerable potential for new and creative uses. However, the area has several relics of largely unsuccessful 1970s urban renewal. Given their prime location, considerable size, and relatively low property value, these properties can be used to anchor new, creative developments (final use tbd) for Erie’s next phase of growth.
Goals and Benefits:
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Repurposing or demolishing sites will reduce blight, increase local pride, and create national recognition. The project will signal to Erie residents (as well as the rest of the country) that Erie has moved on to a new phase of growth and urban vibrancy.
Relevant Examples:
Dayton Arcade District
Cost, Sources, and Uses:
TBD
Progress and Next Steps:
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Identify specific sites to demolish or remodel
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Work closely with architectural competition team to ensure creative new uses