LEWISBURG NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT

1. LEWISBURG NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT Findings and Recommendations of the Lewisburg-Bucknell Task Force

2. 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)

3. 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.

4. 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)

6. Market Street Strawberry Alley Hawn Alley St. George Neighborhood Boundaries

7. 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

8. Floodway 500-Year Floodplain 100-Year Floodplain Floodplain Boundaries

9. Owner/Renter Occupancy

10. Student/Non-Student Renter

11. 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 Lewisburg’s 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.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. Neighborhood in Transition Historic Changes Flooding Deterioration of historic homes In-Migration of student renters Out-Migration of long-time homeowners Recent Changes Landlord’s Association established Renovation and Re-use of vacant building (Zelda’s) 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

15. Neighborhood in Transition

16. Neighborhood Segments

17. Neighborhood Development Plan

18. Student-Faculty “Theme” Housing • Streetscape Enhancements • Common Open Space • Community Outreach Center • University Bookstore • Consolidated Parking University Village

19. 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 Neighborhood Village

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

21. 5th Street Park Overlook • Historic Preservation • Home Rehabilitation • Homeownership Programs • Streetscape Enhancements

22. Gateway Design Improvements (Signage, Paving, and Plantings) • Historic Preservation • Home Rehabilitation • Homeownership Programs • Streetscape Enhancements • Walkway Improvements 7th Street Gateway

23. Bull Run Greenway • New Pathways • New Tree Plantings • Redesigned Public Plaza • Performance Amphitheater • New Pedestrian Bridge • Naturalized Stream • New Stream Access

24. 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 Development Phasing

25. Neighborhood Action Plan

26. 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. Phase I Action Plan

27. 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; Phase I Action Plan

28. 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. Phase I Action Plan

29. 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). Phase I Action Plan

30. Community Organization • Neighborhood Image and Identity • Lifestyle Marketing • The Natural and Built Environment • Implementation Ways and Means Recommendations/Conclusions

31. LEWISBURG NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT Findings and Recommendations of the Lewisburg-Bucknell Task Force www.seda-cog.org/LNP