Last piece of 'Impact' puzzle still missing
Chuck Hayes Warren Times Observer - 11/05/2004
 

So far the pieces of "Impact Warren" have fallen into place perfectly -parking garage goes here, Allegheny Point goes there, Northwest Savings headquarters right here.

But there is a missing piece of the puzzle.

The maps for the layout of "Impact Warren," including the one which may be viewed on the breezepointlanding.com website, show a three-story building on the southeast corner of Pennsylvania Ave. at Liberty St.

The parcel, site of the former Hanna Building, was in recent years used by Northwest Savings employees for parking and is now being used to pile dirt as excavation of the Clark St. parking garage continues.

The property is owned by the City of Warren.

What is going to be built there and who is going to build it?

Warren's mayor is open to suggestions.

"The original plans do include an office type structure, three stories high, on the southeast corner," said Phillips. "At the current time, there has not been a tenant identified that would cause the developer to go into engineering and design."

The developer, Susquehanna Valley Development Group, "is actively pursuing contacts and answering inquiries regarding cost and financing," said Phillips.

In the short-term, said Phillips, the parcel will be used as a construction staging area for the parking garage and Liberty-West, a housing complex to be constructed on the opposite corner. "More than likely," said Phillips, "it would be the last piece developed in the 'Impact Warren' footprint."

If a suitable development opportunity does not present itself, said Phillips, it is conceivable the parcel will be maintained as a "green area" for at least a while.

"Certainly, if there is not a need and potential funding to build a building, it might in the near term be some sort of green area until a need is identified," said Phillips.

Phillips said that the developer is willing to watch how the other elements of "Impact Warren," such as housing for seniors, riverfront townhouses, street-level retail shops, and housing at Liberty-West, blend before making a decision on the best use of the empty corner lot.

Phillips said he and the developer are open to suggestions from both citizens and potential investors about future use of the property.

"We're open to anything that anyone within the community sees as a potential for development," said Phillips. Residents and potential investors alike "are welcome to submit suggestions."

The breezepointlanding.com website includes a "Let's Talk" feature which enables the public to offer constructive comments and suggestions regarding "Impact Warren."

In a related matter, Phillips said that Warren's downtown and riverfront revitalization project has attracted attention from as far away as Texas. Dallas is in the midst of planning a riverfront project, said Phillips, and earlier this week the mayor was contacted by "D" magazine, which was including Warren in its research for an article.

Phillips said the Dallas magazine "caught wind" of Warren's $50 million project through the breezepointlanding.com website, which has been sponsored and maintained by WestPA.net of Warren.

 

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