Downtown partnership discusses proposal of building height ordinance

By SUSIE XU
Collegian Staff Writer

The State College Borough Council's proposed building height ordinance was the main topic of discussion at yesterday's Downtown State College Partnership Inc. meeting.

The ordinance would limit building height in the commercial district. Currently, buildings can reach a maximum of 75 feet, or eight stories. The ordinance would decrease the height limit to four stories, or if certain requirements were met, six stories.

"I'm concerned about the scale, the density . . . the design that we're getting in this town," said borough council member Janet Knauer, who originally proposed the ordinance.

She added residents of State College have expressed their dissatisfaction with the architectural environment downtown, especially on the 200 block of East Beaver Avenue.

Knauer said the high-rise apartments along Beaver Avenue are mainly home to students. The area is not popular among permanent residents because they say it is too unpleasant and scary, she said.

"Primarily, I'm concerned that too many people don't feel comfortable (downtown) anymore," Knauer said.

But George Woskob, member of the partnership and co-owner of GN Associates, 119 S. Burrowes St., wrote a letter voicing his opposition to the ordinance.

In the letter he said he thought several problems would arise from the ordinance, including downtown parking complications, deterrence of residential projects and development outside the borough.

Knauer said the developers obviously are making a large profit from the eight-story buildings. However, they have had many years to develop their land and now they are protesting against possible restrictions, she said.

Tom Daubert, borough council member, expressed a similar view at the meeting.

"The lack of cooperation from the big developers has been phenomenal," he said.

Members of the partnership have sentiments all across the spectrum, said Jim Mann, partnership executive director. Some members are against reducing the current eight-story limitation while others are willing to make amendments to the existing proposal, he said.

"If (developers) can't give us a good design, at least make it more bearable for everyone in the town," Knauer said.

A public hearing to further discuss the ordinance will be held Feb. 1.