Downtown Newtown: Work together tocapture our vision
By: SHAWN WARDBucks County Courier TimesWith the completion of the Sycamore Street Reconstruction Project several years ago, Newtown'sSycamore Street has been transformed into the signature "Main Street" of Newtown Township.Improvements include stamped concrete sidewalks, period lighting fixtures and streetscape amenitiessuch as benches, trash receptacles and brick-type crosswalks.With this transformation, the street says, "Welcome to Downtown Newtown Township!" Recently, theproposed concept plan for the Promenade was unanimously approved by the Sycamore StreetCommunity Association, incorrectly referred to as the Sycamore Street Business Association in a recentnewspaper story and editorial.The purpose of the not-for-profit association is the continued betterment of the Sycamore Streetcommunity and the promotion of commerce, marketing, civic pride and community events. Its mission isto preserve the historic nature of Newtown Township's town center, promote our businesses, encouragecontinued residential living and provide historic and cultural experiences to our residents and visitors.It is the belief of the association that the mix of commercial/retail and "owner-occupied" residentialdwellings will provide Sycamore Street with an "around the clock" presence and "eyes on the street,"making it a secure area to live, work, dine and shop.The active membership of the Sycamore Street Community Association is comprised of resident propertyowners and business owners along Sycamore Street. Associate members include township residents andbusiness owners within 300 feet of Sycamore Street who exhibit a bona fide interest in the continuedbetterment of the street.The association is creating a proposal to work with the township on street maintenance issues, includingsidewalk maintenance, flowerbed care, snowplowing procedures and other issues such as flagpoles andstreetlights. This public-private partnership will be designed to encourage a proactive approach tomaintaining this "town-jewel."In or about 2002, supervisors appointed a blue-ribbon panel of Newtown Township residents, propertyowners and business persons known as the Acme Visioning Committee to act as an advisory board tocollect input from the community and advise the board on the best use of that property. Most, if not all, of the panel members still reside and/or work in the Sycamore Street community.Following testimony or comments by 25 community members during three public hearings on the matter,the committee made an informed, nine-point recommendation:1. Demolish the existing building.2. Clean up the site and pay close attention to the steep slopes at the rear and side yards.3. Future development should complement the neighboring Newtown Presbyterian Church.4. The future development of the site should be mixed-use.
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