A year from now, "Impact Warren" could be more than a vision.

The $40 million downtown revitalization plan was the subject of Friday's Warren County Chamber of Commerce "Eggs and Issues" program, with Warren Mayor Mark Phillips and city council vice president David See outlining the plan.

Phillips said the proposal is continuing to generate both support and questions.

Among the most common questions is when construction will actually begin.

The answer to that question, said Phillips, hinges on the fate of applications for state and federal funding which will support the multi-faceted program. Townhouses, housing for the elderly, office building, retail space, parking garages, a small convention center and motel and transit center are part of the project.

But if funding falls in line, Phillips said construction could begin as early as fall of 2003.

The fact that both the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor have now given enthusiastic support to "Impact Warren" is significant, said the mayor.

With an election looming, state agencies which will review applications might otherwise be prone to hold off on major decisions, waiting to see what direction the new administration wants to take.

But with "Impact Warren" assured support regardless of which candidate becomes governor, Phillips said, "They're in a planning mode."

"Impact Warren," said Phillips, is not just architect Thomas Harley's conception of what would would look nice in downtown Warren and along the riverfront.

"We asked people what did they think downtown Warren needed? What would they like?" said Phillips.

Finally, the development team built the project around the question, "What would the state fund?"

See said one of the key aspects of the program will be acquisition of the Loranger property on Clark St., where the hotel, transit center and convention center would be located.

"Right now, the development team is working to acquire the property," said See.

A preliminary inspection of the Loranger building, said See, indicates it will be well-suited for a convention center.

"It looks like it will be easily rehabbed to do this," said See.

A small convention center, said See, should encourage events such as hunting and fishing expos, for instance, to come to Warren.

The development team has almost completed its market study to determine if a 100-room riverfront motel on the Loranger property is feasible.

"It looks like it's going to be a possibility," See said.

Phillips stressed that no one would have hoped for the demise of Loranger, which will be a key piece of property in the revitalization effort.

"The fact of the matter is it's real, they are bankrupt," said Phillips. "It's an opportunity to reclaim a great piece of riverfront property."

Eventually, said See, the city hopes to create a complete loop for visitors and walkers by placing a pedestrian bridge across the Conewango Creek at "The Point," linking the downtown with the city swimming pool, YMCA and Memorial Field area. By making the existing railroad trestle across the Allegheny River to the south side safe and accessible to pedestrians, the loop could continue to an existing trail in Crescent Park and link with the Hickory Street Bridge and Breeze Point Landing.

Phillips said he has also been asked if some of the "Impact Warren" plans will have to be abandoned if PennDOT decides to build a new bridge at the foot of Market St.

That possibility, said Phillips, has been taken into account and as a result, "This project is adaptable. That (bridge) would not impede this project one bit."

The city officials invited anyone with questions or comments about "Impact Warren" to visit the project's website at www.breezepointlanding.com.

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