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 INVESTMENT STATUS
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 Rehabilitation projects largely completed in 2019, with limited funding still available in 2020
Downtown “gateway” conceptual design (north downtown entrance at Main and High Streets) Erie Community Foundation Shaping Tomorrow grant to UC Pride $50,000 Up to $50,000 Initial planning meeting held with Bostwick Design Partnership of Erie in February 2020. Public input meeting tentatively set for July 2020, with preferred design to be selected in September 2020
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 Up to $95,000 Engineering firm selected by UC Borough Council in February 2020. Parking lot design plan to be provided to Council by late April
Caflisch Park ADA accessibility and other improvements ECGRA Community Assets grant to UC Borough $50,000; PA Department of Community & Natural Resources $50,000; UC Borough $1,500 $101,500 Initial engineering design finalized. Work anticipated in 2020
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. Initial meeting held to provide input to engineering firm
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 Structural assessments expected to be completed by end of April 2020
Downtown façade improvements ECGRA Mission Main Street grant to UC Borough $42,500. A 1-to-1 match with property owners. Up to $85,000 Applications currently available
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. Up to $85,000 Applications and funds to be made available upon completion of structural assessments in Spring 2020
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 June-December 2020
Multimodel Sidewalk Project, replacing sidewalk/partial curbing along south side of Johnson Street between S. Main S. and Miles St., from Johnston St. to Elementary School PennDOT Multi-Model Transportation Fund $121,800; Union City Borough $36,000; Property owners $6,000. $163,800 Preparing the Request for Proposals (RFPs) for project bidding. Tentative completion by Fall 2020
Borough Sidewalk Grant. Available to property owners since 2002, with 2,601 feet of sidewalk replaced between 2016-2019 Since 2016, Union City Borough $10,688; UC Community Foundation $3,000; UC Community House Association $1,000; plus property owner contributions. $14,688 Funding still available
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 Properties acquired by UC Pride September 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 $2,855,650