WELCOME Collaborators and Stakeholders Update, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

WELCOME

Collaborators and Stakeholders

Update,Wednesday,Jan. 26, 2011

WHO WE ARE AND WHY WE’RE HERE

LIFT JOHNSTOWN is a collaborative effort by residents, non-profits business leaders and government representatives who have come together to recognize to support three revitalization plans:• City Master Plan• 20/20 Regional Vision• Laurel Highlands Conservation Landscape

TODAY’S AGENDA

• Last update focused on near-, mid- and long-term plans.

• Today’s update is a year in review:

• 6 Core Projects• 8 Collaborative

Community Projects

CORE PROJECTS(2010 accomplishments)

Downtown Stroll District• Concept: create vibrant new core with shopping, housing.Accomplishments:• Awarded $1.5M state Smart Transportation grant• Finalized options on parking lots, negotiation other sites• Applied for $1.8M state NPP grant (denied)• Applied for $1.3M federal TIGER grant (denied)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Smart Transportation Funding• Connect Main Street to Route 56.• Make Main Street 2-way.• Greening of Main and other key streets.• Crosswalks well defined• Bike lanes added in key corridors• Design-build approach – includes construction!!


Connecting Main Street to Route 56


• View of where Main Street will be extended and curved by Point Stadium entrance

Wendt did what??• …• …• …


City Web Portal• status??


Downtown building• Concept: physical space for i-Lab, educational opportunities, workforce development, etc., that draws people downtown as catalyst for business development.• Obtained option on Walnut Plaza building from Conemaugh Health Systems.

DOWNTOWN EDUCATION CENTER

• Primary initial tenant could be i-Lab.

iLAB• Concept: Innovation Laboratory engages people in learning, especially with technology skills that improve both job opportunities and business performance.• Catalyst: not just city Master Plan but core need recognized by young professionals (20-20 Plan).• Accomplishment: Developed advisory committee:

• Educators• High-tech businesses• Manufacturers• Workforce development programs (JARI,

Goodwill)

INNOVATION LABORATORY

iLAB

• Accomplishment: Completed Operational Plan with state grant.

Mission: to serve as coordinative element to develop, incubate, market and support educational programs and experiences in STEM for students and employers using innovative technology and instructional techniques that result in learners and a workforce prepared to meet the challenges of working in a 21st Century economy.


iLAB• Accomplishment: Completed Operating Plant

(cont.)

• Core functions: 1. Think-tank to develop innovative solutions.2. Provide educational programs/experiences. 3. Market/promote STEM opportunities.

• Tentatively agreeing to leadership roles:• Father Gabriel Zeis, President of St. Francis

University.• Ed Sheehan, President & CEO of CTC.

• Identified Gap Analysis as next step.


• Accomplishment: Applied for $2.9M NSF grant.• Applicants: Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Carnegie Mellon University, Saint Francis University and Concurrent Technologies Corporation, working with community facilities and businesses.• To engage high school students in developing video games and virtual worlds (GSV) to build STEM knowledge, self-confidence, and interest in STEM careers.


• Student teams will work at community centers, libraries, other local facilities called “3D-me Hubs”.• With CMU virtual mentors and local-college front-line mentors, students will develop 3D GSV of schools, hospitals, retail and other buildings.• 3D models become settings for student-developed games and simulations, and have value as 3D products to train and direct first responders, and for virtual retail stores, museums and other facilities.


• 3 LEED houses• 2 nearly done shown

here.• 316 and 318 South

St.• 5 rehabs• X demolitions

KERNVILLE REVITALIZATION

Cambria County Redevelopment Authority

Johnstown Redevelopment Authority?• ??

Johnstown Housing Authority• X rehabs??

West Hill – who’s taking lead?


Accomplishments:• Stonycreek River Park received $34,000 DCNR grant, demolished 2 burned structures.• Plantings done at Haynes Street Sculpture Park/ Franklin Street Gateway with DCNR TreeVitalize grant.• Began planning for vacant lot program - includes proposed Prospect co-op


Path of Flood Trail• CCCRA feasibility study, missing links (Franklin-Staple Bend, Flood NM)• CVC assessing East Conemaugh-Upper Woodvale enhancement• Strank Bridge: 5-foot berms can be bike lanes

REGIONAL TRAIL/PARK NETWORK

Proposed Alternative Route

Missing Link

Existing On-Street

Existing Off-Street

Jim Mayer Trail• Built 0.8 mile extension in Moxham

Fundraiser netted $1,400

• Filed for property transfer to CCCRA• Prepared to build 1.4 mile link from current trail in Moxham to Sandyvale Memorial Gardens


Jim Mayer

Riverswalk

Trail


West End to Conemaugh Gap• Feasibility study done on Conemaugh Gap• Seeking landowner agreements for City-to-Gap section• Route 56 curve being straightened – will allow Cambria Iron-Cambria City link


Conemaugh Water Trail• Tentative Army Corps OK to use ramps in Hornerstown and Cambria City• $4K raised for basic access at Seward• Longer term: develop Inclined Plane/Kernville• Coal Tubin’ looking to outfit trips through Conemaugh Gap


Quarterly meetings for collaborators/stakeholders• Like this meeting right now!

e-blast updates • Monthly e-mail to 3,000 subscribers

Johnstown Magazine• Monthly column

COMMUNICATIONS

Volunteer Registry• 60 registered volunteers• 27 organizations listing projects• Gunter Project

• Facebook, e-newsletter, letterhead, business cards

• Contacting high schools, colleges, churches•Mosaic Project at Bottleworks

• Saturday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m., Train Station• Learn how to lay tiles in cement

COMMUNICATIONS

West End/Cambria City/Save Our Steeples

• Church visioning held in November

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS

• TreeVitalize• Johnstown Redevelopment Authority

• Straightened Route 56• Cambria City and Oakhurst

• JAHA, Save Our Steeples

• Potential new uses for 3 churches

• Short term: Keep heated this winter

COMPLEMENTARY PROJECTS

Cambria City

Churches

Steeples


Cambria

City Church

es

Tall Interio

rs


Cambria City

Churches

ArtFeatures

ArtWorks in Johnstown!• Green Building

• Opened last year• Attracted (how

many??) artists• Raising money for

Green Roof• Cambria City entertainment district


Coal Tubin’ opened!• Que Dam release valve built, installed

• Phase I testing done

• Stonycreek nearly beat Deleware for River of Year• Greenhouse Park funds for barbeque pit• Enhancements planned – restrooms, campground…• Benson Borough streetscape funding???

COMPLEMENTARY PROJECTSStonycreek Quemahoning Initiative

Sandyvale Memorial Gardens & Dog Park• Scheduled for completion in 2011:

• Veteran’s Planting bed – already completed Fall 2010• Community Foundation grant ($85,000) received to

dismantle donated greenhouse and reconstruct it at Sandyvale – by Summer (OK to list CFA, amount? Other $ raised?)

• Walking path around perimeter – by Spring• Dog Park – by Spring• Memorial Wall – by Spring (what’s this wall???)• Remodeling donated building as a special-event/farmers

market venue – partially completed by Spring• Veterans memorial event lawn circled by 8 monument

trees – one for every war – by Summer (connected to Memorial Wall?)

• Planting community gardens in raised beds – by Summer

• Tree Arboretum & Sanctuary – by Fall


COMPLEMENTARY PROJECTSSandyvale Memorial Gardens

(& Dog Park)

Brownfields Re-Use Assessment• Johnstown Redevelopment Authority•

• •

• •


Festival Park – Need photo• Johnstown Area Heritage Association• Home of AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival

• Construction planned this summer• Finish after music festival

• Lighting the Stone Arch Bridge•

•


Community Intervention-Mentoring• Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley• (How many mentors) • Looking for more

• Sign up on Volunteer Web Site•


Vision in the Valley• Product of last Gunter Community Leadership Initiative of Greater Johnstown Chamber• Seeks to create alliance of local business owners• To collaborate to achieve common goals

• •


Chamber ExCEL• Excellence in Chamber E? Leadership•


Geothermal Energy from AMD• Point Stadium discharge• Connect energy to Downtown or Cambria City• Seeking 2 grants for engineering/design:

• $20,000 -- ARC• $10,000 --

Foundation for PA Watersheds

• Next step: drill, pump, determine how much water (energy) is available


What will be done in 2011• Main Street work • Sandyvale• Community gardens• Bottle works mosaic• Stonycreek 1st whitewater season (releases)• Trail building•


Collaboration – Mike Kane• Your priorities for 2011?• In context of 3 plans


www.LiftJohnstown.org

Documents

WELCOME Collaborators and Stakeholders Update, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011