State grant to help fund town development project
By Michelle Laxer
Associate Editor of Content
The University’s plan to establish stronger town-gown relations made strides with last month’s announcement of a $9 million state grant from Gov. Edward G. Rendell and the purchase of a downtown building last week.
Rendell announced in a recent press release that the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Project (RACP) grant will support the Lewisburg Core Community Initiative (LCCI). The project is a joint venture between the University, Lewisburg, Union County and other community-based organizations working to enhance and connect downtown to campus.
The $9 million grant will be used in the first phase of the LCCI while the University continues seeking funds for future projects.
First-phase objectives include building an inn and conference center with an adjacent parking garage, moving the University bookstore to Market Street, and making repairs and renovations at the Campus Theatre.
The majority of the grant will be used in the construction of the 75-room inn and conference center, the press release said. The inn and conference center is estimated to cost $16.1 million.
To continue to fund the LCCI, the University must seek private investors willing to match the amount of grant money used in phase-one projects.
“We’re hoping that people who are friendly to the University, such as alumni, would like to make an investment … partly out of their affection for Bucknell and their desire to see Bucknell succeed,” General Counsel Wayne Bromfield said. He is one of the 14 members of the LCCI.
The press release also said University funds will be used in the construction as needed.
According to Bromfield, the proposed site for the inn and conference site is the corner of Seventh Street and Moore Avenue.
“That requires government permission and a site suitability survey, so this is not a finalized decision,” he said. Bromfield said the decision will be made within the next six months, if not sooner.
If the site is approved, the University will have to relocate the ROTC building or construct a new location elsewhere on campus.
The adjacent parking garage will be intended for student and visitor use, with plans aiming to service 500 or more vehicles. Currently, there are 1,124 available spaces for students and 286 “all decal” spots.
While the LCCI plans intend to move the bookstore downtown, specifics are not final. The University has not yet purchased the preferred building downtown.
“I think it would be a huge inconvenience. I can understand why they would want to [move the bookstore], but I can’t support it,” Ali Kint ’12 said. “We have a lot of books to lug uphill.”
According to Bromfield, a “satellite delivery station” is under consideration to alleviate any inconveniences for students who will have to travel downtown for textbooks.
Construction on the inn and conference center is likely to begin by the end of 2009, the press release said.
Bookstore construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2009, with completion likely in spring 2010. The LCCI also hopes to arrange for national chains to run the inn, conference center and bookstore.
“It seems like [the University] has good intentions. If they partner with a bigger chain, hopefully prices will go down to make it worthwhile,” Tommy Krisch ’11 said, regarding a downtown bookstore. “If [the University] just had the same bookstore downtown, that would be unintelligent.”
The University purchased the Mensch building last week, located within the 400 block of Market Street and across from the Campus Theatre. It is home to Purity Candy, the Edwin D. Mensch Agency and Music & More.
Despite the purchase, Bromfield said the University has no plans to displace any of the current businesses in the building.
“At this point, there will be no change in the building,” he said. “As to future use, the second and third floors could become either rental space for visiting professors or faculty or limited office space. We will not take over retail space.”
One goal of the LCCI is to support the economic viability of downtown Lewisburg by keeping these new properties taxable.
“We made a commitment to the borough that says if Bucknell invested in property that was currently taxable, we would not request tax exemption,” Bromfield said.
The LCCI wants to ensure that the atmosphere and history of Lewisburg’s core remains intact, while enhancing social and cultural interactions between the University and Lewisburg.
“We have commissioned the architects to make any of their designs consistent with the aesthetics, architecture and cityscape of Lewisburg,” Bromfield said.
“The more foot traffic of students, administrators, staff, faculty that can be generated by Bucknell to Lewisburg creates many more economic opportunities for merchants on Market Street,” he said.
