(The following story by Patty Yauger appeared on the Herald-Standard website on June 6, 2009.)
CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. — The visitor disembarks from the Amtrak train at the Connellsville station along Water Street and gazes to his left and right.
There is no signage to point him to a nearby restaurant for a morning cup of coffee or where to go for directions.
A parking lot, church and a seemingly empty building are within the view of the first-time visitor, but nothing that gives him encouragement that there is someplace he can make a connection.
Within the next few months, a Muncie, Ind., architectural firm hopes to provide some ideas that will make the area more inviting and gives direction to visitors.
The need to upgrade the area follows the recent announcement that Amtrak plans to replace the current non-descript glass and aluminum waiting station with a $1.25 million “retro-style” station and platform for those awaiting the arrival of the train service.
The station will be a semi-enclosed facility, with heating and benches inside and seating accommodations outside. There will be no restrooms.
With the new station now a reality, Studio Three artists and architects, who last year focused on the city’s downtown and created artistic renderings for property owners, have returned to now focus on the Peach and Water streets area, so that when visitors arrive they will feel welcome and assured of where to they need to go.
According to Amtrak, in 2008 more than 4,500 passengers either boarded or disembarked at Connellsville.
“Connellsville is a hub for a lot of things,” said Dr. James Segedy, Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) director of community planning, as he stood at the train station. “From here, you can go to a number of other destinations, such as and while access to the Great Allegheny Passage is somewhat further, there are studies being completed the (Great Allegheny Passage) or into the downtown and not just for the bikers, but for everyone.”
The downtown is just steps from the train station to safely connect the trail to the business district.
The connecting areas, said Segedy and Studio Three architect Brian Hollars, could facilitate a hotel, restaurants or the development of the riverfront.
During the earlier forum Hollars and others studied the layout, architecture and other aspects of the city and determined that the current city hall should be the focal point of the business district.
“(The area) is an interesting gateway,” he said. “Because of its location, the city plaza ties together the train, the river, pedestrians, visitors and city government.”
However, at the present time, those that utilize the train service are not aware that within walking distance is the city government office.
If the designers had no restrictions, Segedy said the two-block area would be transformed to meet the needs of train commuters.
The now drab-gray former hotel building would be upgraded to once again offer overnight accommodations to travelers.
“The lower floor could be a restaurant with a deck out back with a view of the river during the summer,” said Segedy.
Hollars said that the area would also facilitate a farmer’s market or festival.
“This seems to me to be a place where there could be a pedestrian zone; changing the paving pattern into bricks,” said Hollars. “Cars could still drive on it, but it could be closed off and make this a public venue.”
The planned renderings for the area, said Segedy, will spark the imagination.
“It will give everyone something to look at and to consider,” he said.
The sketches also give property owners a starting point to finance the project and work with the construction companies.
Should Connellsville be accepted into the state Department of Community and Economic Development Main Street Program, funding will be available for building fa?ade improvements in the downtown area.
“(The renderings) put forward a tangible product,” said Segedy.
The new train station along with the drawings, said Connellsville Redevelopment Authority executive director Michael Edwards, go hand in hand with several other projects to revitalize the downtown, upgrade Yough Park and tie together the Great Allegheny Passage to the business district.
“In their heyday, train stations were the economic development centers of the area,” he said. “By revitalizing this area (of the train station) and tying it into our main street is what our civic leaders, business owners and others that are working diligently to improve our city is looking for.”
The renderings of the train station area will not be completed for several months. However, Studio Three architects have finished the drawings from the December forum. Copies can be reviewed at the redevelopment office.