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LEWISTOWN -- At its monthly meeting Wednesday, Lewistown Borough Council discussed the potential renovation of the former Buchanan Elementary School in addition to other business including upcoming streetscape projects.
The Buchanan Elementary School at 100 Franklin Ave., Lewistown, closed its doors in 2018.
Alliance Housing Development saw this vacant property as an opportunity to maintain a structure that served its younger community and allow it to serve the 55 and older community as a senior housing development.
Rick Slagle, principal of Alliance Housing Development, and his business partner Bill Brown joined the meeting via Zoom. Downtown Lewistown Inc. Executive Director Jim Zubler introduced the two real estate professionals to the council members.
Slagle and Brown said that they needed a letter of support/intent from the council. This letter due in April must state that Alliance Housing Development may begin the process to obtain funding and renovate the Buchanan Elementary School.
The duo plans to create 43 units for one-bedroom apartments. They said these living spaces will lend to the needs of handicapped residents and older residents in general.
According to the real estate developers, this housing development will preserve the integrity of the school building. Specifically, the development will include the original auditorium and other large gathering spaces to serve as common and event spaces.
Slagle and Brown said they plan to fund the $14.5 million project mainly through tax credits, but they must meet with local goverment groups including the Mifflin County Commissioners to receive other letters of support and to gain support from the community.
If the development group receives all clearances, it will potentially begin renovation by the end of 2023.
Borough Manager Kim Zimmerman said he will begin dialogue with key members of the community to start the process toward renovation of Buchanan Elementary School.
Mifflin County Planning Director Mark Colussy segued into the plan for the upcoming Mifflin County Streetscape Project.
Colussy said that the county seeks funding for the potetial $500,000 project.
This project entails:
¯Adding 30-minute parking along Third Street
¯Removing two spots along Third Street
¯Repositioning a Third Street handicap spot
¯Adding a handicapped-accessible crosswalk across Third Street
¯Painting one parking spot to delineate a no parking and unloading zone, and
¯Decreasing no parking and yellow line by 10 feet to adjust parking along Wayne Street away from the alley by Mifflin County Courthouse.
The council accepted all terms except adding a handicapped crosswalk across Third Street. Zimmerman noted that the crosswalk may create safety issues.
All five voting members of the council approved the remaining terms for the streetscape project in a roll call vote.
Following the public comment portion of the council meeting, members approved the consent agenda and moved to the regular agenda.
The borough manager said that the fire department audit is complete. He added that employment for the following positions are nearly filled or have several applicants aiming to fill each role:
¯Deputy Director of Public Works,
¯Mason/Workman,
¯Refuse Collector,
¯Human Resources Coordinator, and
¯Waste Water Treatment Plant Maintenance Technician/Mechanic
During an executive session, borough council members decided which candidates will fill the roles as Deputy Director of Public Works, Refuse Collector, and WWTP Maintenance Technician/Mechanic.
Zimmerman also discussed his plan to cut the number of parking meters in Lewistown to 300. He quickly moved to an item denoting the Valley Street water project progress.
Zimmerman found that those working on the project require clearance to block off work areas from through traffic -- this does not include emergency vehicles -- pending approval from PennDOT. Council members unanimously approved this motion.
In other borough business, the council approved:
¯First quarter Community Development Block Grant funds for $2,504.85,
¯May Mental Health Awareness Month green ribbons (for parking meters),
¯National Moment of Remembrance event on Memorial Day,
¯WWTP Motor Pump for $13,299, and
¯April Sexual Assault Awareness Month teal ribbons (for parking meters).
Borough Council members then unanimously approved their choices for Deputy Director of Public Works and Refuse Collector following an executive session. Council did not publicly reveal the names of those hired.