From working around coal chutes that are under existing sidewalks to setting up public rest rooms for tour buses in the Broad Street area, revitalizing downtown Grove City will come with a $6 million price tag.

John Grossman, president of the engineering firm E.G.&G. Inc., and his associate Rod Garrison presented their plans --and the cost -- during a public meeting Tuesday. E.G.&G. was hired by Grove City Revitalization Inc. to come up with the three-year project for a 1.65-mile radius in the downtown area -- which includes parts of South Broad, South Center, Blair and Pine streets.

Grossman and Garrison presented their plans, along with Dave Dayton, chairman of the nonprofit revitalization program. Those plans included replacing sidewalks with partial bricking and creating curbs and repairing existing curbs, putting utility wires underground, decorative street lighting with appropriate-sized trees, and clear signs that point the way to the downtown area.

Almost half of the approximately $5.8 million needed to pay for the project would come from state and federal money, Garrison explained. Less than 20 percent would come from the private sector, and about 40 percent would need to be covered by local municipalities "spread over 20 years ... affordable low-interest loans like through PENNVEST or a general obligation note," he said.

"We actually have to look at some kind of increase to fund all the various improvements we need to do in the area, not just the downtown project," said Grove City council President Randy Riddle when questioned after the meeting about whether raising taxes to cover part of the revitalization was something council would support.

Riddle referred to the borough's 30-year-old sewage treatment plant, which he said will need to be addressed in the near future, as well as other issues.

"This is the community where we live. If the downtown dies, then property values go down," he said. "Taxes have been cut ever since I've been on council. We want to find creative ways to finance revitalization as well as other projects we need to do."

He said he could not speak for council members about what they would decide about the issue.

Councilwoman Karen Shaffer said afterward that "the project has merit as long as the community is comfortable with the financing."

Resident John Stillwaggon of Rebecca Avenue, who claimed he attended the meeting because of his "hometown" interest, said, "I think the investment is worth it.

"The support for this, I believe, will reflect what the citizens want for this town," he said, adding he doesn't own a business in the downtown area.

Ann Hughes of Superior Street attended the meeting for the same reason.

"I use all facilities in the community. I walk downtown. I walk my dog in the park. It's definitely needed, and I'm especially excited to hear about this project because it's important for the community," she said.

Both citizens said that paying more in taxes would be worth it in the long run.

"If you believe in the community, you have to support it," said Stillwaggon. "That's what it's all about."

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Sherris Moreira-Byers at sbyers@sharonherald.com

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