Last night at the work session held by State College Borough Council, many people had the opportunity to voice their opinions on the establishment of a historic district in State College.

Yesterday, the council held a work session in which they discussed the establishment of a historic district and a historical review board in State College. Many conflicting views were heard.

The council began the discussion by asking to hear what the residents of State College who were present at the meeting had to say. Paul Mazza, one of these residents, chose to speak in opposition to the establishment of a historic district.

The first of the problems that result from establishing a historic district would be the invasion of privacy for those who are living within the district, Mazza said. If a resident chooses to make changes to his home, he should not have to state his reasons for doing so before the council, he said.

Mazza also believes that enforcing a historic district in State College would prevent the economic growth and general progress in State College. The proposal is a "shrink wrap" proposal meant to keep State College the same forever, Mazza said.

"(This proposal) is going to smother State College," he added.

Sally McMurry was another resident present at the work session who chose to speak about the historic district. McMurry is in favor of the proposed historic district, and bases her opinion on the occurrences in other Pennsylvania communities that have established such districts.

Two-hundred and fifty communities in PA have a historic review board, and these communities have witnessed revitalization, McMurry said.

McMurry also does not believe that establishing a historic district and a review board questions privacy issues. In most cases, residents of the district who wish to seek approval from the board would have their issue approved through paperwork, McMurry said.

All owners would, however, have the right to appear before the council if they chose, she added.

"Somehow the privacy issue here alludes me," McMurry said.

At the work session, the members of borough council were also given the option to state their opinions on the proposed historic district.

Council member James Meyer was completely opposed to the idea of establishing a historic district. Meyer initially voted against having a work session to discuss the proposal.

The proposal contains no extended plan for improvement, Meyer said.

"This ordinance comes out of nowhere and is associated with no other strategy," he added.

Elizabeth Goreham, another council member, is for the establishment of a historic district. It is important, however, that the downtown area and the neighborhood districts need to be in agreement about the proposal, Goreham said.

"We're all a piece (of the community); we're all State College Borough," she added.

Council member Tom Daubert was also for continuing with the discussion of the historic district. The residents of the proposed district do need to be informed, and the council should set up an information session for them, followed by a public hearing by the council, Daubert said.

"We need to discuss a vision," he said.

Council member Catherine Dauler believes that the proposal needs to be discussed further by the council. The neighborhood plans for the proposed districts to include the establishment of a historic review board, Dauler said.

It is what the people want, she added.

There are about 1,000 buildings in State College that are registered historical landmarks, located primarily in College Heights and Holmes-Foster-Highlands neighborhood.