Main Street Association to add plaza between Lancaster Ave. and Mill Alley
By Kyle Carrozza, Staff Writer, The Times
DOWNINGTOWN – The Borough’s Main Street Association unveiled plans for a plaza at Armour Alley between Downingtown Country Gifts and Belle Vie Salon at Wednesday night’s Borough Council meeting.
Main Street Association member Sarah Peck said that plans include adding trees, string lights to the square between the stores, a crosswalk over Lancaster Ave., and street lights from Lancaster Ave. to Mill Alley.
Peck said that the project would help beautify the area and draw people into the borough.
“We want as many people to visit as possible,” she said, adding that she hopes that it pushes other businesses to clean up their buildings.
In addition to aesthetic value, the project will help serve the purpose of adding “sorely needed” lighting to the area and help to provide a safe space for pedestrians to cross the street while walking from business to business.
Some of the aspects of the projects still need to be discussed.
“It’s preliminary. Nothing is set in stone yet,” said Peck.
Borough Council President Anthony Gazzerro requested that the Main Street Association continue to investigate the effects of adding a large tree along Lancaster Avenue as branches and roots can become invasive as the tree grows. The proposal also called for wrought iron fencing along the Lancaster Ave. sidewalk while replacing some of the blue vinyl fence behind the businesses. Councilor Alex Rakoff suggested forgoing the fencing along Lancaster Avenue and replacing the entire vinyl fence instead.
“Anything to get rid of that hideous fence,” he said.
Peck said that the association has received pledges for around $40,000 of the $50,000 project. Council agreed to draft a letter of support to help raise the remaining funds.
The Main Street Association hopes that most of the project is done before Thanksgiving while certain pieces to be completed by the borough may have to wait until next year.
Also at Wednesday night’s meeting, Council accepted a $7,699 bid for one of the borough’s ladder trucks. The borough hoped to raise $25-30,000 from the sale but after failing to do so through two sets of bids, Council accepted the bid on Wednesday night.
