Indiana Borough has designated for revitalization the area located adjacent to the Downtown District, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Mack Park. The project area is bounded by Church Street on the north, Carter and Grandview avenues on the south, on the east by Fourth Street (encompassing the rear property lines of homes on the east side of the street), and on the west by South Seventh Street (the rear property lines of homes on the west side the street).
Property owners who want to make improvements to the front facades of their homes are eligible to receive matching grant funding from the state under the auspices of the Elm Street Community, the Borough of Indiana and Downtown Indiana, Inc. The Elm Street Program was created to strengthen the older historic neighborhoods that characterize many of the Commonwealth’s communities.
Funding for the program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development (DCED) through Residential Reinvestment Grant dollars that will be spent on residential façade and landscape improvements, infrastructure and engineering.
For more information contact Downtown Indiana, (724) 463-6110.
Downtown Indiana, Inc.
39 North 7th Street, Suite 101
Indiana, Pennsylvania, 15701
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The Elm Street program is designed to provide assistance and resources to those mixed use and residential areas in proximity to central business districts, to further enhance the downtown area and to improve the viability of older neighborhoods. The Elm Street Program incorporates volunteer support, leveraging of private dollars, strategic planning, rehabilitation / reuse of existing buildings and streetscape improvements.- PA. Department of Community and Economic Development
The Elm Street project is a residential revitalization project funded by the Department of Community and Economic Development. Downtown Indiana, Inc on behalf of the Borough of Indiana applied for Elm Street Designation this past fall and received designation early January 2008. The designated area is located adjacent to the Downtown District, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Mack Park. The Plan Area is bounded on the north by Church Street, on the south by Carter/Grandview Avenues, on the east by Fourth Street, and on the west by the Indiana Borough Traditional Neighborhood Development Overlay Zoning District.
The Elm Street Grant is for $150,000 in operational grant dollars and $250,000 in community revitalization monies. The operational monies will be spent over three years on Elm Street salaries. The project is community driven under the guidance of Downtown Indiana, Inc and the Borough of Indiana. A personnel committee has been created and is currently working on hiring a New Elm Street Manager.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Elm Street Indiana Project (ESI) is to create an environment conducive to community enhancement by coordinating civic, economic and infrastructure and building rehabilitation within the 2nd Ward of Indiana. The ESI will be proactive and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders that are a vital part of the revitalization of the Elm Street neighborhood. The ESI will aim to be a resource to anybody trying to advance the quality of life in the 2nd Ward.
Strategic Goals
- To enhance an affordable and community oriented neighborhood
- To reclaim, rehabilitate, and rejuvenate the physical surroundings of the 2nd Ward while preserving residential character that makes it so special
- To instill pride in the school neighborhood and historical legacies which are a part of the 2nd Ward
The Elm Street Program consists of five components or sub-committees, each with its own goals and outcomes. The five components are listed below.
1. Safe, Clean, Green
- Safe: Invite residents to identify derelict properties, suspected criminal behavior, etc. and share problem areas with code enforcement officer and other appropriate Borough departments.
- Safe: Increase communication between residents, property owners and Borough departments.
- Clean: Involve residents, property owners and community based organizations in establishing and maintaining the clean, safe and green image of Elm Street.
- Clean: Establishing annual Clean-Up Day when residents can clean and dispose of trash and debris including vacant lots.
- Green: Expand shade tree planting program.
- Green: Engage residents in designing and maintaining gateway gardens and mini-park areas.
- Green: Better utilize the current Green space in the Elm Street area.
2. Image and Economy
- Organize neighborhood area events.
- Connect with Downtown Indiana and IUP events.
- Develop neighborhood image-building print materials – logo and newsletter.
- Conduct image building events such as neighborhood recognition for improvements to homes / landscape.
- Promote positive aspects of Elm Street with the help of local media.
- Promote the positive aspects and programs available for homeownership programs.
- Promote the conversion of existing student rental houses to owner-occupied single family homes.
3. Design
- Design and implement infrastructure rehabilitation and streetscape improvements.
- Create and establish Elm Street Design guideline for façade and landscaping improvements.
- Implement residential and commercial building façade improvement program.
- Implement a landscaping and site improvement initiative to coincide with façade program.
- Consider establishing a student apprentice program to help with improvement efforts.
- Work with Borough on code enforcement in the neighborhood and work with Borough on ordinances pertaining to housing occupancy.
4. Neighbors and Economy
- Market the Elm Street Area to prospective new home owners.
- Work with realtors, banks, IUP, IRMC, Chamber of Commerce and Planning Office to market this area.
- Provide a home buyer financial incentive programs and work with local realtors to communicate the opportunities.
- Increase attractive housing options to add stability to the neighborhood.
- Explore with IUP and IRMC a home buyer program for staff, faculty and medical personnel.
- Work with local financial institutions on favorable loan options for façade and landscaping improvements.
- Work with community partners to preserve the neighborhood schools.
- Target historic buildings for recognition and preservation as valuable Elm Street asset.
5. Sustainable Organization
- Help with governance of the Elm Street Project.
- Hire Elm Street Manager.
- Identify and seek additional funding opportunities outside of the Elm Street Program: Fundraising Efforts.
- Developing, implementing and maintaining a long-term organization strategy.
- Coordinating staff and volunteer efforts.
- Developing human, financial and community resources to sustain ESI.
- Creating and implementing a comprehensive communications plan.
Steering Committee: The Steering Committee will consist of 2 people from each of the five sub-committees with one of those two people being the Co-Chair of the Committee.
Roles of the Steering Committee:
1. Communicate committee work to other steering committee members.
2. Work with Elm Street Manager on implementation of the Strategic Work Plan.
3. Help recruit volunteers and facilitate their role in the project.
4. Be a cohesive voice for the project.
5. Guide the project forward.
