Mount Pleasant Glass Centre Reaches Full Occupancy

In July, WCIDC approved a lease agreement with Life’s a Beach USA, LLC, for 1,400 SF of space located at Mount Pleasant Glass Centre in Mt. Pleasant Township. With Life’s a Beach taking occupancy in Building 500, the last remaining available space in the center is now full. The approximately 156,000 SF industrial and commercial complex currently houses six other tenants including Rolf Glass, WATT Fuel Cell, Lenox, and EAP Innovations. The agreement makes Mount Pleasant Glass Centre the eighth WCIDC development to be sold or leased to capacity.

Company Spotlight: Tronix3D

With its expansive area, access to major transportation arteries, comprehensive industrial park system and strong work ethic, Westmoreland County has the business climate to assure success. That's why so many companies have grown strong right here. WCIDC is highlighting those stories in our Company Spotlight.

3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing over the last few years. Instead of printing with ink like traditional printers, it prints layers of powdered nylon to create a tangible 3D object. Local company, Tronix3D is helping to make the innovation accessible to the greater Pittsburgh area. Read the Tronix3D Company Spotlight here.

This effort supports Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s Strategy 6.2, Integrate New Technologies.

Reimagining Our Westmoreland Adopted, Champions Identified

In December of last year, County Commissioners adopted Reimagining Our Westmoreland, the county’s new comprehensive plan. The overarching goal of the plan is to enact strategies that will attract, develop, and retain a diverse and stable workforce that will sustain a healthy economy. In the spring, members of the Reimagining Our Westmoreland comprehensive plan advisory committee met to identify strategy champions and partners to take leadership in implementing aspects of the comprehensive plan. 

In addition, the Planning Department has received nearly 40 Resolutions of Support from businesses, nonprofits, and local municipalities who have committed to support implementation of the plan. The next step in this process is to continue to reach out and connect strategy champions and partners with expertise and resources to implement aspects of the comprehensive plan. 

If you are an individual or organization who would like to assist in implementing any of the strategies or actions laid out in the plan, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Ligonier Diamond Park to be Designated a Great Public Space

Each year, the American Planning Association’s Pennsylvania Chapter invites applicants to nominate a Great Public Space for the Great Places in Pennsylvania Award. Great Places are unique, memorable places that work not only for their community, but also as a model that others want to emulate. They are places of exemplary character, quality, planning, identity, cultural interest, and community involvement with a sustainable vision for tomorrow.

In May, the County Planning Department, in consultation with Ligonier Borough, submitted an application nominating Ligonier Diamond Park as a Great Public Space for the 2019 Great Places in Pennsylvania Award. Ligonier Diamond Park, established in 1894, serves as a destination and popular gathering place for residents and visitors year-round. With its unique characteristics, connection to the downtown area, and opportunities for social interaction, this historic park is definitely one of Westmoreland County’s treasures worth celebrating.

In late July, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association announced that Ligonier Diamond Park will be named one of the 2019 Great Places! The borough is expected to be officially designated a Great Public Place in early September. 

This effort supports Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s Strategy 2.1, Create & Promote a County Brand.

TRAMS 

The Technical Resources and Municipal Services (TRAMS) Program, is a program designed to connect county planners with local municipalities, providing professional planning services and resources, driving implementation of the county’s comprehensive plan. Through this effort, communities gain needed technical support and become better prepared to pilot their future. The following projects are being completed through the TRAMS Program. 

Monessen Blight Inventory and Mapping Completed 

In July, county planners completed the final draft of an online-based blight map for the city of Monessen. The map, created by the County Planning Department in conjunction with MGR Consulting and Mackin Engineering, provides a comprehensive inventory of blight and the patterns that surround these properties. This map inventory, which stemmed from the Monessen comprehensive planning processes, will help the city make informed decisions to address blight moving forward. 

This project supports Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s Strategy 5.1, Eliminate Blight.

Youngwood Hybrid Zoning Ordinance 

One of the ways Youngwood Borough is working to implement strategies in their comprehensive plan is through the creation of a hybrid zoning ordinance. This type of ordinance focuses attention on building placement, scale and design. While incorporating traditional elements, this hybrid ordinance aims to pay special attention to the relationship that buildings and public spaces have with the street.  

Zoning Committee members composed of Youngwood Borough Council members, business owners, and residents have been meeting since the beginning of April to vet this process. County planners and Zoning Committee members will continue to meet to create an ordinance that supports the community’s vision, steering land use and development to meet the needs of its residents and business owners.    

This project supports Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s Strategy 3.4, Utilize Planning Best Practices.

Redevelopment Authority/Land Bank

Westmoreland County Land Bank Sells Jeannette Rt. 30 Site to Local Developer 

The Westmoreland County Land Bank has sold former Monsour Medical site to Colony Holding Companies for the development of ‘Jayhawk Commons.' The purchase includes a $2.1 million acquisition for the creation of an in-line retail strip center. Suites will consist of mixed use commercial and retail space on the 6.4-acre lot. Colony Holding Companies has been headquartered in Westmoreland County for 70 years, starting their commercial development division in 1970.
 
In coordination with the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation, Westmoreland County Commissioners, and Senator Kim Ward amongst other partnerships, this sale consummates the multi-year task of the Westmoreland County Land Bank to rid the blight of the former Monsour Medical Center. After gaining ownership of the property, The WCLB worked with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to release their $3.2 million federal lien on the site. An additional $4.7 million IRS lien associated with the property had to be exonerated to allow for the demolition and remarketing of the site to take place. The Land Bank and Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corporation worked in coordination to leverage a combination of county, state and federal funds to get the site to its current condition.

Downtown Mt. Pleasant Site Ready for Development

29 Main Street, Mt.Pleasant
Suggested Minimum Bid: $30,000

After the Land Bank acquired the vacant hotel located at 29 W Main Street, the property was demolished, clearing the site for a new reuse. The corner lot is situated centrally in East End area of Mt. Pleasant, bordered by a successful restaurant district and in close proximity to the Coal & Coke bike trail, a prime location for new business development.

Find more information on the data sheet found here.

These efforts support Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s Strategies 5.1, Eliminate Blight and 1.6, Provide Development Ready Sites.

Redevelopment Authority Receives $100,000 for Accessible Housing Program

The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Westmoreland (RACW), in partnership with Westmoreland County Land Bank (WCLB), has been awarded a $100,000 grant through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund. The Accessible Housing Program is an initiative focused on low-to-moderate income residents within Westmoreland County. The Program has two major components - the rehabilitation of once blighted structures for single-family occupancy, and installing accessibility modifications in residences of the permanently physically disabled.
 
The majority of the monies will be dedicated to the Homeownership Program, an already active and successful initiative within the Accessible Housing Program due to previous funding from multiple sources, including PHARE, Act 137 and PHARE RTT. To date, eight total properties have been rehabilitated in Land Bank communities, with 1-2 more anticipated with the awarded funds. All renovations have increased adjacent property values and stabilized the neighborhood from further neglect. The RACW will allocate the remaining Accessible Housing funds towards installing home modifications for permanently disabled individuals who earn less than 50 percent of the area’s median income. This program will continue to be essential to our communities, already completing 45 modifications from previous PHARE monies leveraged with county funding. Applicants can apply for either a ramp or stair lift to assist with mobility freedom, keeping these individuals in their homes.
 
The governor named 211 housing and community development initiatives in 67 counties that will share a portion of the total $51.2 million in PHARE funding for fiscal year 2018-19.“A major advantage of the PHARE program is that the decisions on how the funding should be spent are driven locally,” said Governor Wolf. “Local municipalities determine how the funding can best preserve and expand the availability of affordable housing, and then they apply to PHARE to meet those needs. It’s a system that works”.
 
A focus of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Westmoreland is to implement programs that improve conditions for low-to-moderate-income residents throughout Westmoreland County, this granted funding will help achieve that goal.

This program supports Reimagining Our Westmoreland’s Strategy 5.4, Bolster Age-Friendly Communities & Services.