Scranton eyes $6.2M for streetscape upgrades, substitute of closed bridge

SCRANTON — The metropolis plans to hunt $6.2 million state grants for 4 streetscape initiatives and one bridge substitute.

Streetscape areas embrace the realm of the long-lasting Penn Paper constructing made well-known globally by its look within the opening credit of “The Office” sitcom, its neighboring gateway to Pine Brook space and some blocks of North Washington and Adams avenues downtown. The bridge to get changed is the Elm Street bridge over Stafford Meadow Brook in South Side.

Scranton City Council’s agenda for its weekly assembly Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall incorporates three resolutions from Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti’s administration for town to use for state Department of Community and Economic Development Multimodal Transportation grants for the initiatives.

Here’s a have a look at every one:

Penn Paper advanced

A $1,118,905 grant on behalf of Illinois-based Envoy Solutions, which in 2022 acquired the Penn Paper enterprise, can be used for the Penn Mifflin Development LLC streetscape enhancements undertaking.

The historic Eighteen Eighties Pennsylvania Paper and Supply constructing at Penn Avenue and Vine Street is the final remnant of a locomotive producer that after sprawled over a number of metropolis blocks. Now, in that space the place the downtown meets Pine Brook, town eyes streetscape enhancements in blocks of Penn and Mifflin avenues and Vine Street, between Mulberry and Olive streets, together with additions of angled parking, bicycle lanes, streetscape enhancements and improved pedestrian crosswalks alongside Mifflin and Penn avenues and Vine Street, whereas sustaining two 10-foot automobile journey lanes in every route.

“These improvements will enhance safety, increase parking, strengthen bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, support redevelopment and improve access for businesses, visitors and surrounding properties,” this decision says.

A DCED multimodal grant is comparable in course of to a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant, by which town sponsors and applies for a grant and the state requires a “match” of a sure portion of the quantity contributed by a developer, metropolis Business Administrator Eileen Cipriani stated. In this case, Envoy Solutions would fund the 30% match contribution, the laws says.

The Penn Paper enterprise was began in 1922 by Jacob Fink. In the Envoy acquisition, Fink’s grandson, Doug Fink, remained because the native basic supervisor and retained possession of the property, in line with Times-Tribune archives.

Long earlier than “The Office,” the Penn Paper constructing made an indelible mark on Scranton and the nation as a part of the once-sprawling Dickson Works locomotive manufacturing facility that dated to 1856 and that additionally made engines, boilers and different objects over time. Listed in 1979 on the National Register of Historic Places, the blocklong Penn Paper constructing is the final construction remaining from the Dickson Works advanced. A cornerstone says “The Dickson Manufacturing Company, Organized 1856,” and “Machine Shop, Rebuilt A.D. 1882.”

In a 2023 article in The Times-Tribune about changing bricks within the Penn Paper tower, Fink stated the Penn Paper web site might but have one other incarnation forward as a spot the place folks stay. It was doable the paper operation may in the future transfer to an industrial park for a contemporary, one-story distribution facility, and the Penn Paper buildings might be redeveloped into blended residential and retail makes use of, Fink stated.

Efforts on Tuesday to succeed in Fink had been unsuccessful.

UNC grant

A $500,000 grant on behalf of United Neighborhood Community Development Corporation, an arm of United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, would revitalize the “Gateway of Capouse Avenue,” together with the 600 block of Capouse Avenue and its intersection with Olive Street.

This undertaking would renovate sidewalks, set up lighting, enhance and replace crosswalks, plant shrubbery and paint markings to obviously outline automobile parking. “This project aims to aid all residents, business owners, students and commuters by enhancing pedestrian walkability and providing adequate lighting, ultimately resulting in a safer community feel.”

UNCDC would offer this 30% match contribution.

The 500 block of Penn Avenue and the 600 block of Capouse Avenue line up straight throughout from one another at Olive Street, the place a landmark rail bridge of the PA Northeast Regional Railroad Authority goes diagonally over the intersection, between the rears of the Penn Paper constructing and the D.G. Nicholas constructing fronting on 601 Wyoming Ave.

The intersection is also a busy one for pedestrians, together with college students strolling to and from Scranton High School by way of Olive Street.

This UNC streetscape undertaking additionally dovetails with the nonprofit group’s plans to ultimately remodel the blighted gateway with a $22.5 million undertaking to construct 41 items of multifamily reasonably priced housing on a 2-acre web site on Capouse Avenue at Olive Street. This undertaking requires demolishing constructions at a junkyard at 601 Capouse Ave. and developing a pair of three-story buildings, parking heaps, walkways and landscaping on the property.

UNC’s gateway growth is a part of a long-term revitalization plan underway in Pine Brook that has an general aim of making a stronger, extra enticing neighborhood with buy-in from residents and companies. Unveiled in 2021, UNC’s revitalization plan acquired in 2022 a state “Elm Street” designation for precedence consideration for grants and different help.

Elm Street Bridge and streetscape

Also included is a $4.6 million grant encompassing three separate initiatives, together with $3 million for the Elm Street bridge substitute and $1.6 million for North Washington and Adams avenues streetscape initiatives.

The bridge carrying East Elm Street over Stafford Meadow Brook at Hertz Court is closed due to its deteriorated situation. This undertaking would change the bridge and restore the street and sidewalks.

The North Washington/Adams avenues initiatives would happen on North Washington between Mulberry and Vine streets, and on Adams between Mulberry and Linden streets. This work requires changing outdated street and pedestrian lighting with new period-style lighting, underground wiring and related street and sidewalk restorations.

The state waives the 30% match requirement for municipalities.