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Partners for Livable Communities, a national, non-profit leadership organization, will be honoring the City of Easton next week for its downtown residential redevelopment plans.
At the “Celebration of Vision and Community Spirit” awards ceremony Jan. 11 in Washington D.C., Easton will receive an Entrepreneurial American Community Award for the innovative use of public/private partnerships in its economic revitalization plan centered on high-end residential development.
The Entrepreneurial American Community Award acknowledges the civic capacity building, commitment, vision and entrepreneurial spirit of a city. Livable Communities believes cities honored with this award are true innovators, have found success in providing unique solutions to local problems, and have shown a devotion to increasing the quality of life of the community’s residents.
In a news release, Livable Communities noted the initiative of Easton Mayor Phil Mitman and City Council to enter into the state’s Early Intervention Plan (EIP) for financially distressed communities. EIP consultants recommended developing high-end residential buildings as a means to boost the local tax base and the city has since partnered with numerous local organizations and businesses to work toward a community and economic revitalization.
Some of the projects currently in development are: The Majestic, a nine-story high-rise luxury condominium on South Third St.; a restaurant and condominium in the vacant Pomeroy’s building on Northampton St.; and the Riverwalk project on Riverside Drive, which will house retail establishments and condominiums.
Lafayette has played a major role in the Bushkill Creek Corridor Revitalization project, which will beautify properties in the North Third St. area and make improvements to former industrial properties on North 13th St.
According to Robert H. McNulty, Livable Communities President and CEO, Livable Communities has been following Easton’s progress since the 1980’s when the organization collaborated with Mitman to develop a strategy to reopen the Easton State Theatre.
“We have been watching Easton for some time,” he says. “We followed its ups and downs and with the expansion of Crayola and Lafayette beginning to revitalize downtown buildings, we thought it was time to recognize the little engine that could so to speak.”
McNulty believes Easton is an excellent metaphor for what can happen with the town-gown relationship. He says the award recognizes this as well as the collaborative effort between local government, organizations, and businesses.
“Easton has a great deal of potential,” he says. “We look forward to it having a vibrant downtown and being a community where people really want to live.”
Atlanta; San Diego; Kalamazoo, Mich.; and Hillsborough County, Fla. will also receive Entrepreneurial American Community Awards Jan. 11 for projects in their communities.
Founded in 1977 and based in Washington, D.C., Partners for Livable Communities works to improve the livability of communities by promoting quality of life, economic development, and social equity. The organization does this through technical assistance, leadership training, workshops, research and publications. It also compiles America’s Most Livable Communities list, a database of the country’s best places to live.