A view of Main Street in Nanticoke, part of the downtown area being revitalized.

Nanticoke resident pitches downtown revitalization committee

BY KRISTEN GAYDOS (STAFF WRITER)Published: August 17, 2010

NANTICOKE - A long-term downtown revitalization plan for the city of Nanticoke can only succeed if business owners and residents band together, according to resident Frank L. Knorek Jr.

Knorek stressed the need for organization and community support as he pitched creating a nonprofit committee solely dedicated to the city's downtown revitalization Friday at the South Valley Chamber of Commerce.

The current $30 million downtown revitalization project includes renovating the long-vacant Kanjorski Center on Main Street into LCCC's new Health Sciences center. The college's Joseph A. Paglianite Culinary Arts Institute is under construction at Market and Main streets. The building, named after the co-founder of Grotto Pizza, is set to open this fall.

However, Knorek said a group focusing on long-term solutions and identifying the market base that downtown shops will serve are key to making the revitalization efforts lasting successes. With students coming into the downtown area, existing businesses and new businesses should cater to their needs, such as places to have lunch or shop while between classes, he said.

If business owners, city officials and other stakeholders in the downtown area are not interested in making a change, revitalization efforts would fail, he said. This concern was highlighted at the meeting as only one business owner turned out to hear Knorek's presentation.

"You need your residents and business owners to be the driving force," Knorek said.

Dan Kowalski, chamber vice president, said residents need to be amenable to changes that would eliminate eyesores, like the row of empty storefronts, or "broken teeth," along Main Street. However, that is often a struggle in this region.

Jeri Stumpf, a community development consultant, said disinterest and apathy is a problem inhibiting redevelopment in many municipalities throughout the state. Those spearheading revitalization efforts need to find a way to motivate people and drum up support, he said.

"How do you deal with apathy?" he added.

To gauge interest and support, Knorek and chamber members will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the South Valley Chamber of Commerce, behind Mill Memorial Library at Kosciuszko and East Main streets in Nanticoke. All residents - especially downtown business owners - are urged to attend, Kowalski said.

"If they're not on board, it's not going to happen," he said.

kgaydos@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2118

Source: http://m.citizensvoice.com/news/nanticoke-resident-pitches-downtown-revitalization-committee-1.953049