From housing to a new senior center, "Impact Warren" will definitely have an impact on the area's senior citizens.

The seniors zeroed in on Allegheny Pointe, the four-story building to be built adjacent to Soldiers and Sailors Park. In addition to street-level retail space, Allegheny Pointe will include two floors of housing for seniors and a "lawn level" senior center.

The City of Warren is currently served by two senior centers - the Fourth Ave. center where Phillips spoke on Tuesday and the Warren Senior Center on Pennsylvania Ave. W. Under the plans for Allegheny Pointe, the Pennsylvania Ave. W. center would be relocated to the new building.

Phillips was asked why the Pennsylvania Ave. center was given the opportunity to relocate to Allegheny Pointe.

"Because they expressed an interest in it," said the mayor, but he stressed, "It's not exclusive."

The mayor admitted he has never been quite sure why the City of Warren has two separate senior centers operating within a few blocks of one another.

The Warren Senior Center may rent or purchase an entire floor at Allegheny Pointe, said Phillips.

At this point, there is nothing to prevent the two centers from combining resources in the new center, Phillips said.

" ... but that's not my issue," he added.

Phillips was also asked a number of questions about the apartments for seniors at Allegheny Pointe, including who will be eligible to live there.

"The first criteria is you'll have to be sixty-two or older," said Phillips. "Rents will be paid by income, so no matter what your income, you'll be able to rent."

While it is likely the apartments will be operated and maintained by an authority, Phillips said "whether that will be the Warren County Housing Authority has not yet been determined."

With the "Impact Warren" plans recently revised to eliminate construction of a multi-level parking garage in the 300 block of Pennsylvania Ave., several people questioned whether there will be sufficient parking for the residents of Allegheny Pointe. The second parking garage on Clark St. would be a considerable walk for some of the residents, they noted.

Phillips said that was a good point which should be considered, adding, "That's why I'm holding these meetings."

Phillips said the design of "Impact Warren" is still a work in progress "with pieces of the puzzle that may be moved around."

In that regard, Phillips said Northwest Savings Bank recently decided that it will not retain the operations center building at the foot of Liberty St. as originally planned and "they told us to utilize the property in a new way."

One citizen told the mayor $40 million would be better spent directly creating jobs.

Phillips said there is no question Warren County needs new jobs, but said, "People need to understand this distinction - city government does not build industries. What we can do is create an environment that makes people think they like what they see in our community."

Downtown revitalization alone is "not the magic pill," Phillips admitted, but it will help create an atmosphere in which both new and existing businesses "feel good about Warren."

By encouraging people to live in the downtown and visit the downtown, said Phillips, the demand for services will increase and there will be economic benefits. For instance, three properties which now generate no tax revenue will be placed on tax rolls.

"A large majority (of the $40 million) will come from our tax dollars which we have already sent to Harrisburg," said Phillips. If Warren does not capture those dollars in the form of grants, said Phillips, they will be spent in other cities.

"I'm not shy about that," said Phillips. "We're willing to lobby long and hard for the return of those tax dollars."