UNION CITY PROJECT INVENTORY (2009 – present*)

For information on any of these initiatives, contact UC Borough Secretary Cindy Wells
*Not intended as an exhaustive list of initiatives within the borough, but rather key examples of the most significant “community development” projects undertaken by UC Borough, nonprofit Union City Pride, other community organizations, and a variety of funding sources. Initiatives outlined in green are current/ongoing. Initiatives outlined in yellow are completed.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION FUNDING SOURCES TOTAL STATUS
French Creek Trail feasibility study PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources $32,500; match secured $32,500. $65,000 Anticipated completion spring 2022.
Downtown trees and sidewalk history panels, downtown historic markers and residential National Register signage. Union City Community Foundation $9,250; Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant $4,850; Union City Pride $2,100; Preservation Erie/Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority $2,000; $18,200 Tree plantings, sidewalk history panels and downtown historic markers anticipated completion in spring/early summer 2021; residential National Register signage completed.
Downtown mural to mark 150th anniversary in 2021 of borough’s naming as “Union City.” Erie Arts & Culture $2,000; Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant to UC Pride $7,000. $9,000 Mural location finalized for south-facing wall of Dai Salon at 28 S. Main St. Muralist selected. Installation of mural expected spring 2021.
City Building assessment for improved ADA accessibility and feasibility of 2nd-floor uses. Union City Community Foundation has approved $10,000; PA Historical & Museum Commission has approved $25,000. Seeking the remaining $15,000 of required matching funds. $50,000 TBD based on identification of matching funds.
Downtown “gateway” conceptual design (north downtown entrance at Main and High Streets) Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant to UC Pride $36,660 $36,660 Overall design completed. Design to be finalized, and funding to be sought for implementation. No specific timetable for implementation.
Public parking lot across from UC Public Library on west side of Main Street ECGRA Mission Main Street to UC Borough $30,000; Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant to UC Pride $65,000 $95,000 Final design completed and contractors selected. Construction anticipated spring 2021.
Caflisch Park Phase I ADA accessibility, including walking paths, picnic tables, swing set. ECGRA Community Assets grant to UC Borough $50,000; PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources $50,000; UC Borough $1,500 $101,500 Engineering design finalized. Work anticipated in spring 2021.
Caflisch Park Phase II ADA accessible restrooms. PA Department of Conservation & Natural Resources grant to UC Borough $60,000; $30,000 match from Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant. $90,000 Engineering design finalized. Work anticipated in spring 2021.
Comprehensive Recreation, Park & Open Space Plan (master plan) for Union City’s four parks PA Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) grant to UC Borough $50,000; UC Community Foundation grant $10,000. $60,000 Local Parks Planning Committee established in February 2020. Final plan anticipated by April/May 2021.
Creation of an “Active Transportation” plan for Union City, to include walking and biking routes throughout the community. PA Department of Health grant to UC Borough of $15,000 through the “WalkWorks” program. $15,000 Complete by September 2021.
Rehabilitation of residential properties on East and West High streets, South Street and the Avenues. ECGRA Renaissance Grant to UC Borough $60,000; to be matched by participating property owners $60,000. $120,000 Balance of original $60,000 has been expended/committed, but the Borough is applying for a new round of ECGRA funding and should be notified by mid-April.
Downtown building interior and exterior rehabilitation matching fund for projects resulting from structural assessments ECGRA Mission Main Street grant to UC Borough $42,500; participating property owners 1-to-1 matches. $85,000 Currently accepting applications for projects connected to downtown building structural assessments.
Main Street PennDOT improvements, including traffic signal updates, pedestrian crossings , intersection redesign at Main-High streets Pennsylvania Department of Transportation $1,215,000 Work scheduled for Spring 2021, with additional railroad safety upgrades added to the project.
Borough Sidewalk Grant. Available to property owners since 2002, with 3,700 feet of sidewalk replaced between 2016-2020. Since 2016, Union City Borough $17,500; UC Community Foundation $3,000; UC Community House Association $1,000; plus property owner contributions. $14,688 Funding still available
Structural assessments of 19 “historically contributing” downtown building interiors and exteriors ECGRA Mission Main Street grant to UC Borough $38,000; Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant to UC Pride $38,000. $76,000 Completed 2021.
Downtown façade improvements ECGRA Mission Main Street grant to UC Borough $42,500. A 1-to-1 match with property owners. $85,000 Completed 2020.
Multimodel Sidewalk Project, replacing sidewalk/partial curbing along south side of Johnson Street between S. Main St. and Miles St., from Johnston St. to Elementary School PennDOT Multi-Model Transportation Fund; Union City Borough; Property owners. $99,985 Completed 2020.
Rehabilitation of owner-occupied single family homes. Erie County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to UC Borough. $179,000 Completed 2020.
Purchased UC Dinor and adjacent Main Street building Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant to UC Pride, and UC Community Foundation grant to UC Pride, totaling $62,533. $62,533 Completed 2019
Create downtown Historic Preservation master plan, including advisement on historically contributing buildings, signage, lighting, seating, and public spaces PA Historical & Museum Commission $25,000 to UC Borough; matched by UC Community Foundation $13,000; ECGRA $10,000; and UC Borough $2,000. $50,000 Completed 2019
Downtown building façade improvements ECGRA Mission Main Street grant to UC Borough $35,000; matched by participating property owners $44,315. $79,315 Completed 2019
Façade/exterior improvements available to homes in the area of South Street, West & East High Street, and the Avenues ECGRA Renaissance Grant to UC Borough $50,000; matched by participating property owners $56,043. $106,043 Completed 2019
Downtown façade improvements ECGRA Mission Main Street grant to UC Borough $15,000; matched by participating businesses $31,000; and UC Community Foundation $6,500. $52,500 Completed 2018
Downtown façade improvements, downtown signage, window tinting, sidewalk benches ECGRA Mission Main Street grant to UC Pride $15,000; matched by participating businesses $6,000; UC Pride $6,232; UC Lions Club $1,934, UC Municipal Authority $290; UC Little League $544. $30,000 Completed 2018
Rehabilitation of owner-occupied single family homes Erie County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to UC Borough $225,000 Completed 2017-18
Façade safety initiative for tornado remediation, downtown welcome sign, downtown flowers and landscaping, Community Day initiative ECGRA Mission Main Street program to UC Downtown Development Committee via UC Community House Association; Union City Pride; UC Community Foundation; Erie County Greenways. $23,000 Completed 2015-16
Hogan’s Alley picnic pavilion, landscaping and picnic tables, Welcome to UC signs, downtown flowers, Community Day & Buy Local initiatives ECGRA Mission Main Street program to UC Downtown Development Committee via UC Community House Association; Erie County Greenways Program to UC Downtown Development; UC Lions Club; UC Community Foundation. $30,289 Completed 2014-15
Downtown flower planters & flowers, Welcome to UC signs, Borough Building windows, historical museum windows, first Community Day event Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) Mission Main Street program to UC Downtown Development Committee via UC Community House Association; & UC Community Foundation $20,432 Completed in 2013-14
Acquisition of 23-25 South Main St. (“Higby Bldg”) following tornado to secure façade for safety purposes and roof for preservation UC Community Foundation to UC Pride; & UC Pride $8,650 Acquired in 2013; façade secured and miscellaneous preservation work in 2015; temporary roof repairs conducted in 2019
Acquisition and demolition of multiple South Main Street properties across from UC Public Library UC Community Foundation to UC Pride $29,900 Acquired by UC Pride in 2009 and 2014. Demolition in 2010 and 2017. Site of future public parking lot (see above)
Acquisition and demolition of three houses on Concord Street UC Community Foundation to UC Pride; & UC Pride $13,000 Acquired and demolished by UC Pride in 2009
TOTAL INVESTMENT — 2009 TO DATE $3,145,695