Business & Tech

Bridgeville's Revitalization Gains Momentum

Streetscape project and business development program helping store owners in town.

The extensive streetscape project that is set to begin along Washington Avenue in Bridgeville is part of a larger plan to spruce up the business district.

The borough has partnered with Allegheny Together and the Pennsylvania History and Landmarks Foundation to help shop owners find grants to improve their storefronts and boost their marketing ability.

David Farkas, director of the Foundation’s Main Street Program, said Bridgeville has been proactive over the past two years in trying to improve the business district. He added that the key is highlighting the assets of the area to people living outside of the community.

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“I think the secret of Bridgeville needs to get out more,” Farkas said. “It’s a great traditional downtown community just a few miles from Pittsburgh with a major highway running through it.”

The program is also geared towards filling vacant stores, although Bridgeville doesn’t seem to have as much of a problem as other towns. However, borough Manager Lori Collins noted that new businesses moving into town are using the program to make their storefronts more appealing. The second round of matching-grants for façade improvements is expected to begin soon.

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“It’s such a nice a little town and we’re always trying to improve,” Collins said.

to replace all of the sidewalks from Hickman Street to Bower Hill Road. About 10 trees and other shrubbery will be installed in certain areas to add some greenery but prevent the sidewalks from cracking like before. The borough also plans to update the look of the bridge near Station Street with brick and decorative lighting.

The borough is combining $125,000 it received from the Main Street program with $228,000 in stimulus money. Collins hopes those improvements will lead to more foot traffic in the area that will benefit secondary streets connecting to Washington Avenue.

Other communities involved in the program include Swissvale, Verona, Elizabeth, Tarentum, Stowe, Coraopolis, Bellevue, Vandergrift, Freeport, Leechburg and Apollo.


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