An Overall Pian for the Development and Preservation of the City of Mooha, Pennsylvania
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An Overall Pian for the Development and Preservation of the City of Mooha, Pennsylvania Prepzred Under the Direction of the City of Altoona Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and Staff of the City of Altoona Depaitmsnt of Planning and Development Adopted by Resolution or' Altoona City CounciI on August 9, 2gOo. Cornm u n it4 Plann i r ia Cons u I t a nt [Jrban Research and Devetoprneilt Corporation Bothle hem, Penns y lva tiia CONTENTS Introduction .................................................................... 1 Great Things Are Happening ................................................... 1 AltoonaWithintheRegion .................................................... 2 I Altoona’sRichHeritage ....................................................... 3 I How This Plan Was Developed ................................................. 4 1 c Initial Public Input ................................................................ 5 Community-Wide Survey ..................................................... 5 Neighborhood Workshops ..................................................... 6 I Results of Focus Group Interviews .............................................. 9 Mission Statement .......................................................... 11 Direction: The Major Goals of this Plan ......................................... 11 I Relationships Between the Components of this Plan ............................... 13 I Land Use and Housing Plan ....................................................... 15 L Economic Development and Downtown Plan ......................................... 37 i TransportationPlan ............................................................. 53 I c Community Facilities and Services Plan ............................................. 63 NaturalFeaturesPlan ............................................................ 71 i Putting this Plan Into Action ...................................................... 77 I The Neighborhoods of Altoona .................................................... 91 I This Plan Was Developed Under the Direction of the Following Altoona Citizens Mavor City Council Thomas Martin Mark Geis Dennis Hallinan City Planning; Commission Wayne Hippo Sharon Fasenmyer Robert Johnson Patrick Labriola Ronald Reidell Richard Rothrauff Thomas S haheen Kate Shaffer Robert Mitchell* Thomas Stout Herb Wilson" Robert Suders Francis Wiley Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee Howard Sell* Patrick Altiero Tony Ruggery" Roger Bunnell Sharon Fasenmyer City Manager William Forsht Joseph Weakland Richard Haines Helen Harms Altoona Department of Planning & Community Patrick Labriola Development Staff Martin Marasco Larry Carter, Director Thomas Martin Nick Ardizzone Patrick Miller Jean Cupp William Polito Robin Emswiler Richard Reeves Carl Fischer Jane Shefield Audrey Green David Shields Mary Johnson Joseph Weakland Jane Laughlin David McFarland Marilyn Morgan Maryann Pellegrine Barbara Sweeney James Trexler Dennis Zahrobsky Aaron Mowry" Robert Palombi" T. L. Ralston, Jr.* *Former members 1999 Phase I of the Comprehensive Plan was developed with the assistance of numerous additional committees, with the following persons providing professional assistance: Dr. Witt Watts, Assistant Professor of City Planning, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Dr. John Benhart, Former Assistant Professor of City Planning, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Dr. Kevin Patrick, Assistant Professor of Geography, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Dr. Alexander Chen, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Pennsylvania State University - Altoona Dr. Charles Kormanski, Psychologist, Pennsylvania State University - Altoona This project was primarily funded by the Community Development Block Grant program, as administered by the US. Department of Housing and Urban Development. City of Altoona Comprehensive Plan INTRODUCTION Great Things are Happening Many great things are happening in Altoona and neighboring areas. For example: The new Railroaders Memorial Museum, Altoona CurveBlair County Ballpark, County Convention Center, the Penn State Downtown Conference.Center and the Downtown Discovery Center are bringing many new visitors to the area. Within a few years, Interstate 99 will be a four-lane expressway connecting Interstate 80 and State College with Altoona from the north, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 68 to the south. - Route 220 may also be improved from Interstate 80 to Williamsport to become part of Interstate 99. At Williamsport, the new Route 15 expressway (which may become Interstate 99) will then be completed northward to connect with the Route 17 Expressway across New York State. Major improvements are also planned along Route 322 and 219 to improve access to the northwest. - These improvements will greatly improve Altoona’s accessibility to the Northeast Region, and thereby make it more attractive to businesses and residents. From 1994 to 1998, the annual dollar value of construction within the City increased 74 percent - from $1 8.2 to $3 1.7 million. Most notably, there was a 145 percent increase in the value of additions, repairs and alterations to residences - to $14.2 million in 1998. There was also a 116 percent increase in the value of new commercial construction - to $5.8 million in 1998. (In this comparison, the $40 million expansion of Altoona Hospital in 1994 was not included because it was an exceptional project.) The rate of housing construction is increasing. The 25 new homes built in the first 4 months of 1999 surpassed the 16 homes built during all of 1998. Most of the new homes are high-quality site-built single family detached houses. Neighborhood groups in Logantown and other areas of the City are organizing to strengthen their community. The crime rate of Altoona continues to be far lower than similar mid-sized cities in Pennsylvania. Penn State Altoona, Altoona Hospital and Bon Secours Hospital continue to expand, and serve as economic anchors for the region. Another set of improvements to the Downtown’s streetscape is underway, a new Police Headquarters is complete and City Hall is undergoing extensive renovations. 1 City of Altoona Comprehensive Plan I Although Altoona still needs to expand its tax base, in 1999 the City’s auditors reported that the City’s financial condition has greatly improved. Altoona Within the Region I As seen on the following Regional Location Map, Altoona is located in south-central Pennsylvania, approximately 100 miles east of Pittsburgh. 1-99 provides north-south access to the east-west Pennsylvania Turnpike. Once the missing link to the north is completed, 1-99 will connect to State @ College and the east-west 1-80. Bedford is 35 miles to the south, Harrisburg is 135 miles to the east, Johnstown is 45 miles to the west, and State College and Penn State University - University Park are 45 miles to the northeast. REGIONAL LOCATION I I a I STATE COLLEGE 8 HARRISBURG I CARLISLE 0 1 il ..I..-..-.. ..-..-..-..-..-..-..-. c 8 2 City of Altoona Comprehensive Plan Altoona’s Rich Heritage The Altoona area was originally inhabited by native Americans’of the Iroquois Confederacy. The first western settlers arrived in the mid-1700s. A series of stockades were constructed in the mid-1700s in the region as a defense against Indian raids, including Fort Roberdeau. In 1811, iron making began at the Allegheny Furnace. The owner of the Furnace built the Baker Mansion nearby. By 1831, the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Canal was extended west to Hollidaysburg. The Canal connected to the Allegheny Portage Railroad in 1834, which hoisted canal boats over the Allegheny Ridge on primitive rail cars. Altoona owes its origin and growth to the Pennsylvania Railroad. While most cities were located along rivers, Altoona was located at the approach to the Horseshoe Curve. The Pennsylvania Railroad was chartered by Pennsylvania in 1846. In 1849, the Railroad began developing the community that became Altoona - as a staging area for the construction of the rail line. By 1850, the railroad had been constructed from Harrisburg west to Altoona. The Allegheny Ridge was a major barrier to the completion of an east-west railroad across Pennsylvania. Through innovative engineering, the Horseshoe Curve was completed in 1854 west of Altoona to provide a westward passage at a grade that was gradual enough for heavy trains. The Horseshoe Curve is now designated aNationa1 Historic Landmark. Once this route was completed, the railroad was able to replace the canal as the primary means of transportation. By 1858, the travel time between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh had been reduced to 15 hours, as opposed to the three days required before the railroad was built. The original rail yard in Altoona was centered in the vicinity of present-day Station Mall between 9th and 10th Avenues. The west side of this rail yard became the commercial center, while the east side was primarily residential. The most prominent building was the Logan House, on the site of the present Post Office. Altoona was incorporated as a borough in 1854, when it included approximately 2,000 residents. The population grew to over 10,000 by 1870 - partly as a result of demand for rail cars during the Civil War. Altoona was incorporated as a city in 1868. By 1880, Altoona’s population had reached almost 20,000. This growth in residents was accompanied by establishment of strong churches, clubs and a range of businesses. Downtown Altoona for decades served as the commercial center for the entire surrounding region. Llyswen