Former Urban Village plan revisited

About 60 State College residents met last night to learn more about the West End Redevelopment Plan, formerly called Urban Village.

Pending State College Borough Council's approval, the project is intended to focus on improving the area of west campus, immediately west of Atherton Street, Keith Weaver, associate principal of EDSA urban planning company, said.

EDSA and Delta Development Group planners listed goals for the project: to beautify the area with a one-and-a-half to two acre park on the west side of Sparks Street, to make the area safer for pedestrians with better crosswalks, to diversify housing opportunities by adding work-force housing, and preserving the character and historical significance of the West End with guidelines for existing and new structures.

The plan was met with varied opinions.

"I think it's a superficial override ... it's an attempt to sell a development," Penn State architecture professor Richard Alden said. "What's wrong with the place now? What the hell's wrong with it?"

Borough Council will meet March 30 to learn about the plan and April 9 to review it and discuss comments before adopting it. Both Council meetings are open to the public.

Plans to demolish building postponed

Demolition for the outer part of the old Creamery building, where the ice cream was sold, has been postponed until after the spring semester ends.

This summer, Curtain Road will be closed while Office of Physical Plant replaces several utility services, including the steam, condensation and sanitary lines going to Borland Lab, Tim Heltman, OPP project manager, said.

"It just made the most sense to do that demolition work while the road is closed down for the other repairs," Heltman said.

He added that the postponement didn't impact the overall schedule of Borland's construction.