LEWISBURG NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT

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LEWISBURG NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT

• Findings and Recommendations of the
  Lewisburg-Bucknell
• Task Force

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Background

• Principles for Residential Life (1998)
• Re-Study Authorized (2003)
• Analyze Behavioral Changes
• Identify New Regulatory Strategies (Landlords,
  Parents, etc.)
• Review Pros and Cons (Educational, Safety, etc.)
• Plan New On-Campus Housing
• Identify Alternative Neighborhood Futures
• Borough and residents concerns for off-campus
  living arrangements and behaviors (ongoing)

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Project Team

• Lewisburg-Bucknell Task Force
• Bucknell Officials
• Lewisburg Borough Officials
• Business and Property Owners
• Neighborhood Residents
• SEDA-Council of Governments, Community Resource
  Center
• Delta Development Group, Inc.

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Project Purpose

• Explore Alternative Futures
• Analyze Market Opportunities
• Establish a Future Vision
• Develop Action Strategies
• Identify Potential Funding

5
Community Involvement and Research

• 6 Focus Group Interviews (85 Participants)
• Bucknell and Borough Officials
• Bucknell Students
• Neighborhood Residents
• Neighborhood Business and Property Owners
• 12 Key Person Interviews
• Neighborhood Design Charrette (55 Participants)
• Field Trips (Bucknell-Borough Officials and
  Neighborhood Residents)

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Neighborhood Boundaries
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Neighborhood Facts

• Land Use - Mixed
• Environment
• 75 of Neighborhood is in Floodplain.
• Housing
• Majority are Renter-Occupied.
• Approximately 78.5 are Student Rentals (161
  units).
• Property Conditions and Values
• Social Characteristics
• Perceived Image
• Physical Characteristics

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Floodplain Boundaries
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Owner/Renter Occupancy
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Student/Non-Student Renter
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Market Overview

• Continued Demand for Housing
• Strong housing demand due to local mobility and
  continued growth.
• Area growth projected to continue over the next
  decade.
• 58 of residents have moved into Lewisburg in
  the past 5 years. 50
• came from out of state.
• Lifestyle Attraction Shapes the Lewisburg Housing
• Market
• New residents and visitors drawn by lifestyle
  characteristics and
• Lewisburgs authentic small town experience.
• Lifestyle characteristics attract college
  students, young professionals
• and couples, empty nesters, and active seniors
  and create new
• housing and business opportunities.
• Potential target market is attracted by
  proximity to arts and
• entertainment, e.g., theatre, concerts, movies,
  books and CDs eating
• and drinking establishments and access to
  parks and facilities for
• exercise and fitness training.

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Market Opportunities

• Urban Design and Programs Enhance Neighborhood
  Value
• Historic Preservation
• Home Improvements
• Home Ownership Options
• New Housing Choices
• Safe and Attractive Streetscapes
• Proximity to Amenities (Parks, Shops, and
  Services)
• Mixed-Use Adds Vitality to the Neighborhood
• Some shops and services are a desirable addition
  to the
• housing mix.
• Primary market for shops and services should be
  neighborhood
• residents and students.
• New businesses should help expand markets for
  existing
• downtown businesses.
• Neighborhood commerce should be oriented to
  neighborhood
• lifestyles and interests.

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Case Studies University/ Community Partnerships

• Carlisle- Dickinson College Seminars
• Radnor and Bloomsburg Ordinances to enforce
  landlord responsibility and enhance quality of
  life
• Student Ambassador Programs with community
• Student-business owner relationships
• Union-Schenectady Initiative
• A Partnership for a Better Community
• Community Outreach Center, Neighborhood
  Association, Education and Home Ownership, and
  Off-campus Residential Housing.
• Trends from elsewhere
• Other university and community development
  trends from around the country

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Neighborhood in Transition

• Historic Changes
• Flooding
• Deterioration of historic homes
• In-Migration of student renters
• Out-Migration of long-time homeowners
• Recent Changes
• Landlords Association established
• Renovation and Re-use of vacant building
  (Zeldas)
• Renovations in anticipation of non-student
  renters
• Slowing rate of homeowner-occupied housing
  turning to student rentals
• Today
• Neighborhood is thirsty for innovative solutions
  to ordinary problems
• A Strategic Plan is offered for
• Flood Mitigation Stream Habitat Restoration
• Historic Preservation Infrastructure Improvements
• New Construction Environmental and Open Space
  Enhancements
• Neighborhood Programs

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Neighborhood in Transition
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Neighborhood Segments
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Neighborhood Development Plan
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University Village

• Student-Faculty Theme Housing
• Streetscape Enhancements
• Common Open Space
• Community Outreach Center
• University Bookstore
• Consolidated Parking

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Neighborhood Village

• Detached Housing (Singles and Duplexes)
• Attached Row Houses
• Alley Carriage House Apartments
• Common Open Space

• Historic Preservation
• New Infill Housing
• Streetscape Enhancements
• Flood-Resistant Housing
• Front Porches

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Bull Run Neighborhood Center

• Arts Entertainment Oriented
• Live/Work Loft Apartments
• Mixed Housing-Commercial Use
• Neighborhood Businesses
• Streamside Gardens
• Rooftop Café
• Daycare Center
• Consolidated Parking

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5th Street Park Overlook

• Historic Preservation
• Home Rehabilitation
• Homeownership Programs
• Streetscape Enhancements

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7th Street Gateway

• Gateway Design Improvements (Signage, Paving, and
  Plantings)
• Historic Preservation
• Home Rehabilitation
• Homeownership Programs
• Streetscape Enhancements
• Walkway Improvements

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Bull Run Greenway

• New Pathways
• New Tree Plantings
• Redesigned Public Plaza
• Performance Amphitheater

• New Pedestrian Bridge
• Naturalized Stream
• New Stream Access

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Development Phasing

• Balance of Public-Private Benefits
• Attractive, safe, and purposeful living
  arrangements for defined segments of the Bucknell
  student-faculty population.
• Enhanced public space and infrastructure to
  foster new private investment in housing
  rehabilitation and development.
• Mix of Programs and Projects
• Organizational Development
• Programmatic and Policy Initiatives
• Physical Improvements

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Neighborhood Action Plan
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Phase I Action Plan

• Organizational Development
• Establish a Memorandum of Understanding between
  Bucknell University and Borough of Lewisburg to
  establish mutual commitments and accomplish goals
  set forth by the task force
• Create a permanent organization to spearhead
  long-term action
• Conduct feasibility studies for construction in
  floodplain, housing types, community center and
  University Bookstore
• Conduct development feasibility study to
  determine the total project development costs and
  create a specific funding and finance strategy
  for implementing the project.

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Phase I Action Plan

• Programmatic and Policy Initiatives
• Clarify University's position on reducing
  off-campus student population
• Maintain and enhance student conduct policies
  regarding off-campus behavior
• Maintain and enhance Borough code enforcement and
  zoning policies
• Initiate mortgage assistance program to offer
  incentives for home purchasing in neighborhood
• Review the Lewisburg zoning ordinance with
  Borough to accommodate the proposed vision for
  the study area
• Develop programs to rehabilitate deteriorating
  structures worthy of restoration

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Phase I Action Plan

• Programmatic and Policy Initiatives (cont.)
• Develop guidelines for infill development to be
  in-scale and in character with existing
  structures as well as to be of floodplain-friendly
  building type and
• Develop program to offer incentives for renters
  to become home- owners and work with real estate
  brokers to encourage the transition.

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Phase I Action Plan

• Physical Improvements
• Seek means for demolition of most flood-prone
  houses or those in the worst conditions and
  demolish those identified structures
• Work with Borough and property owners to preserve
  and maintain existing structures of historical
  integrity
• Seek means to repair, replace, and enhance
  sidewalks, street pavements, curbing, lighting,
  utility lines, and parking lanes (specifically on
  5th and 7th Street).

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Recommendations/Conclusions

• Community Organization
• Neighborhood Image and Identity
• Lifestyle Marketing
• The Natural and Built Environment
• Implementation Ways and Means

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LEWISBURG NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT

• Findings and Recommendations of the
  Lewisburg-Bucknell
• Task Force
• www.seda-cog.org/LNP