Attachment I

City of Greensburg: A Plan to Direct Development

Profile of Greensburg
The City of Greensburg and its partners are engaged in development projects emphasizing the
City’s role as the downtown and cultural center for the Greater Greensburg area. The City is a
center of professional & service sector business, along with leading institutions of culture,
entertainment, health care and higher education. The downtown features independently owned
restaurants & bars and specialty clothing and gift shops. The City’s population doubles each
business day with the influx of people employed by the County Government and local & national
firms. The top five employment fields for residents are Health Care, Construction,
Manufacturing, Retail Trade and Education Services. As a cultural center, residents and visitors
experience performances and exhibitions that are of a metropolitan quality. Efforts to expand the
tax base focus on recruiting new businesses and securing commercial development that increases
the number of employees, residents and visitors.

Summary of Investment within the Downtown Area

Since the formal adoption of the Redevelopment District in 2005 by the City of Greensburg, a
total of $82 million has been invested in this geographic area with visitor spending estimated at
$1.5 million. Significant construction projects include the new State Office Building on North
Main Street, the Economic Growth Connection addition of four floors at 40 North Pennsylvania,
the Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center on Harrison Avenue, utility, sidewalk and
crosswalk improvements along Main Street and West Otterman Street, and the renovation of the
James-Stark Building. The City of Greensburg Façade Improvement Grant Program has
supported 39 renovation projects with $93,986 grant funds matched by $162,591 of private
funds. Recent renovations of upper floors from office and vacant space into residential
apartments for undergraduate and graduate students are estimated at $2.7 million. Interest in
developing student focused apartments within the downtown area remains high.

City’s Role in the Region Directed by the General Public

In 2004, the city of Greensburg partnered with neighboring municipalities in the creation of the
Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan. Public participation generated input on a new
vision/strategic direction for the Greater Greensburg area. This public input was incorporated
into the City’s redevelopment plan and reinforced existing efforts to secure new investment. The
City’s redevelopment plan emphases Greensburg’s role as the downtown for the Greater
Greensburg area and the cultural center for the County along with securing both business
investment and commercial development that are unique so to draw residents and visitors into
the City. The Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan contained desires expressed by the
community that the City of Greensburg should include a focus on:
*Securing significant, regionally unique destination retail businesses that take advantage
of Seton Hill University, the growing college student population, and attractions within the
established Main Street and Cultural District.
*Attracting significant ground floor retail and/or restaurant & bar businesses with upper
floors including residential housing and/or commercial uses.
*Complementing the existing local restaurants and bars by adding new nightclubs and
restaurants that are unique and appeal to a younger population.

Development Vision for the Cultural District and Main Street District
Given Greensburg’s geographic position within Westmoreland County and the location of key
institutions and destinations within the City, the community desires development proposals that
include a cultural, entertainment, retail, and/or residential element with a priority for a
destination-oriented project. The desired project may include a combination of uses such as
office space, restaurants, grocery store, live theater, art gallery, movie theater, nightclub and/or
mixed specialty retail, as well as residential. Taken as a collective whole, these development
projects are to result in the following objectives.
• Create a lively pedestrian environment;
• Bring activity to downtown evenings and weekends;
• Extend commercial development along West Otterman Street;
• Serve as a catalyst redevelopment project that assists in attracting additional
quality development projects to the downtown;
• Provide a bookend development to the SHU Performing Arts Center;
• Add high-quality architectural and urban design to the streetscape; and
• Continue the commercial development momentum within the downtown area.
Partners in the Development of Greensburg
The Greensburg Community Development Corporation and the City of Greensburg are seeking
proposals for the West Otterman Street Development Site or other under-utilized commercial
buildings from development teams with a proven track record of successfully completing
development projects in urban, downtown settings. The development project should achieve a
significant number of the stated development objectives while also achieving financial viability
for the project. While a number of proposed uses may meet the objectives listed, the GCDC
encourages a thoughtful approach to a proposed project. The development should provide a
balance of national chains and local businesses as well as have synergy with existing facilities
such as the SHU Performing Arts Center, the Palace Theater, and the Westmoreland Museum of
American Art along with the numerous restaurants & bars and the Shopping and Cultural
District.

The City of Greensburg and the GCDC believes in the power of cooperation and is proud to call
the following organizations and institutions development partners:

Excela Westmoreland Hospital Seton Hill University

Greensburg-Salem School District
LECOM at Seton Hill University
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Private Property Owners /
Commercial Developers
Redevelopment Authority of Westmoreland
County
Smart Growth Partnership
Westmoreland County Commissioners
Westmoreland County Transit Authority
Westmoreland Cultural Trust
Westmoreland Museum of American Art

The Greensburg Community Development Corporation board of directors has adopted a strategic

plan that implements initiatives supporting the City’s Plan to Direct Development.

Produced by;

41 West Otterman Street, Ste 520, Greensburg, PA 15601, Ph: 724-689-0040

sgifford@ThinkGreensburg.com