With several new businesses opening recently in Heidelberg, the borough seems poised for growth, and Town Center Associates, a firm specializing in helping towns create vibrant business districts, has offered its services to the small community nestled between Scott Township and Carnegie.
“We are all about bringing in business, and businesses that will serve your community. We help you to keep the good businesses you have and attract new businesses,” said Mara Dowdy, program director from Town Center, who spoke at the borough council’s January meeting.
Mrs. Dowdy said the borough is in a good position to build on a streetscape project completed in 2014 that refurbished the Route 50 business corridor in Heidelberg with new sidewalks, benches, landscaping, and street lights.
“The streetscape helped with the appearance of the business district, which is very important for attracting new business,” she said.
Financed largely though a $2.4 million Department of Transportation grant secured by U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R- Upper St. Clair, the streetscape project also included upgrades to Third Street in Carnegie and Carothers Avenue in Scott to create an “urban boulevard” linking the three communities.
Businesses have started to take notice and several have already decided to open shop in Heidelberg.
Insurrection AleWorks chose Heidelberg for a micro-brewery and restaurant that borough council president Carrie Nolan said is busy every weekend. Burgh Bites Brick + Mortar, a restaurant featuring gourmet burgers and pizza, opened last month, and an O’Rilley Auto Parts store is going in at the former BP Station near the intersection of Route 50 and Collier Avenue. The auto parts company is also buying two adjacent houses to demolish so it can expand the space for the new store and parking lot.
Business growth has brought with it an increased demand for parking and the borough recently passed an ordinance to prevent commuters from parking along Route 50 all day then taking Port Authority buses into town.
“We needed to move the commuter parkers out of town to free up more parking for residents and businesses,” Ms. Nolan said.
Town Center offers an array of services ranging from efforts to attract new businesses to studies on ways to improve the appearance of a business district and help with updating and modernizing zoning ordinances.
The architecture of the buildings, storefronts, signs, lighting and landscaping are all important elements when it comes to making a business district attractive to customers, Mrs. Dowdy said.
“The perception of a community is tied to the condition of the business district. When the business district does well, home values go up as well,” said Mark Peluso, executive director of Town Center.
Town Center has worked with a number of communities in Allegheny County, including Millvale, Carnegie, and Dormont. They have also worked with city of Beaver in Beaver County for 15 years on business development and planning.
“We will look into the resources they can provide the borough,” council president Nolan said, adding that council will be exploring some grant opportunities opening up in June to help pay for the services.
Bob Podurgiel, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.