Development

This section of our website details some of the construction that our community has seen throughout the past several years.  It is an exciting time in Berwick, as we have seen a recent explosion of community and private development.

Comprehensive Plan to be Re-evaluated

The Borough of Berwick paid Mullin & Lonergan Associates to help create a Comprehensive Plan in the year 2000.  The Comprehensive Plan is designed to create a 5 to 10 year long-term plan to improve a municipality in many different areas.  Unfortunately, the Borough did not accomplish many of the goals set forth in the plan.  We ask the question eight years later....why?  The are a variety of reasons in which we are examining.  However, part of the reason is simple.  The plan simply wasn't completely feasible.  Therefore, we are re-examining the Comprehensive Plan and tweaking it to make realistic goals to improve our Borough.  We are also going to examine other aspects that the current plan does not address. If you would like to be a part of this process, please contact Shane at City Hall.  We'd be more than happy to include you in the process. To see the current plan, click on the link below.  Please forgive us as the scan was not completely clear. Borough of Berwick Comprehensive Plan

Over 800 Attend Jackson Mansion Open House

On a truly festive day in the Borough of Berwick, the Berwick Borough Council teamed with the Berwick Area Historical Society to host a day of celebration.  The Borough government recently moved down the street to make way for a future museum at the Jackson Mansion.  Borough offices moved out of the building on January 4, 2010.  Since then, the Historical Society has been working feverishly to renovate the building.  Although there is a long way to go, the difference in the building in just four short months is astounding.  No longer are there internet wires running all over or flourescent lights hanging from the ceilings.  Instead, the Society has located many of the original fixtures to the building.  The Borough had maintained the building very nicely for many years, with the woodwork still looking good.  Additionally, the Borough kept many of the original fixtures to the building downstairs in the basement.  President of the Historical Society, Jim Stout, seen on the right in the picture below, found many of the fixtures and sent them out to be refurbished.  Today, they are hanging in each room just as they once were over 100 years ago.  Additionally, the Society has been able to locate numerous items from the building, such as bedroom suits, tables, chairs, and the original Steinway Piano, which is now appropriately located in the room it was once in.  Several years ago, the Borough had approved the Society to completely remodel a room in the 2nd floor of the building.  The Society spent over $12,000 bringing the room to where it once was.  Upon completing that room, they moved to the bathroom, bringing it back to date as well.  The group has volunteered hundreds of hours in remodeling the builidng.  Donations from local members, visitors, citizens and businesses have helped make this project a reality.  The Berwick community is very proud of the efforts and accomplishments made by the Historical Society to turn our beautfiul mansion into what it should have been 50 years ago....a museum!

YMCA Upgrades Nearly Complete

The Berwick YMCA has made a number of major investments into their building, that once served as the Berwick High School many years ago.  The building, nearly 100 years old, was in need of major renovations.  Nick Pajovich, executive director of the YMCA, created a vision with his board of directors that included a state of the art fitness facility, a state of the art daycare and preschool, and new modifications throughout the builidng. Although the vision seemed nothing more than a wish at the time, the Mr. Pajovich began applying for grants and fundraising immediately.  The project has taken more than a year to complete, as it is being phased in over time.  The organization obtained federal, state, and local grants for this project.  As you can see in the photos attached, the facility has simply transformed.  In the very last photograph, you will what the rooms looked like before the new ones were created.  The YMCA still has a lot of work to do, however, when this project is completely finished, there won't be a more beautiful and state of the art facility around.

Borough Proudly Displays New Municipal Building in Open House

On Saturday, May 1st, the Borough proudly displayed its new municipal building located at 1800 North Market Street.  The Open House featured a dedication from Father Dominic Mammarella, a Catholic Priest in Berwick for the last 47 years.  It also featured speeches by Council President Gary Pinterich, Borough Manager Shane Pepe, and Police Chief Frank Brennan.  Following the ceremony, refreshments were served and tours were given of the new City Hall and Police Station. The building has been completely renovated.  The Borough of Berwick Public Works Department, led by employees Curt Rider (project manager) and Jack Kyttle (assistant project manager), completed approximately 95% of all renovations done to the building.  Codes Enforcement Officer Nick Kalanick has served as the Planning Manager for the entire process.  DPW employee Phil Keifer designed and built the new landscaping around the building.  Rooms were built, additions were built, walls were knocked out, and nearly 15,000 feet of new wiring was ran.  A new roof was put on and the driveway was repaired by Reedy's Sealcoating.  Melchiorre Electric put in a new electric service and helped with new lights around the outside of the building.  Kissinger's placed new carpeting in several rooms.  The building was also designed to be a secured building, therefore, a surveillance system was installed by ICU surveillance, and the DPW employees created secured doorways, placed bulletproof glass, and helped install secured doors, ordered from Bloom Glass.  The sign was created by Baker Signs and decals around the building were completed by DeFebo Graphics.  The public works department employees did all other electrical work, all carpentry work, and did a job above the expectations of anyone!  Without the hard work of these employees, this project could never have happened.  They saved the Borough taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.  On May 1st, we were proud to show off our building to our community members!

Berwick Hotel Coming Down: Fist Columbia Bank to Build New Bank

After approximately 10 years of sitting vacant, the historic Berwick Hotel is being demolished.  More than 10 years ago, the Borough of Berwick shut down the Berwick Hotel for a variety of reasons.  The owners at the time dropped everything and left town, letting the building sit vacant and unattended.  The building was a target for vandalism, illegal vacating, and other illegal activities during the last ten years. For many years, the Berwick Hotel was one of the most beautiful attractions across northeastern Pennsylvania.  People in town tell their stories about the wonderful ballroom dances and fancy dinners that they had once upon a time.  The hotel truly was a site to be proud of. In recent history, the hotel went from fame to shame.  The hotel was finally sold in a judicial sale through the county.  Borough leaders fought for ten years to bring closure to the eyesore in the middle of the downtown that was once the best hotel in the area.  The sale took so long because there were $760,000 in liens against the building that had to be forgiven.  Moreover, the owners could not be found to release the building from their ownership.  However, in the end, the tax sale did occur.  Although the Borough Manager was instructed to bid the minimum on the hotel for the purpose of transferring ownership, the First Columbia Bank & Trust Co. purchased the hotel in the bidding process.  The bank has done Berwick a great service by immediately beginning the demolition process and designing a new, beautiful bank to take the place of the old hotel.  The bank is being designed to meet some of the old architecture in the area.  Many thanks to First Columbia Bank & Trust for what they have done for our community, as this 10 year effort has finally paid off.   Construction Updated: The Berwick Hotel is finally down and work has begun on building the brand new First Columbia Bank building located on the corner of Market and Third Streets. The hope is for the building to be completed by Thanksgiving. Stop by and check out this beautiful new building in the heart of our downtown.  This is among many projects happening in our area.

Chestnut Street Project

The Columbia County Housing Authority is in the process of building “First-Time Home Owner” homes where the Chestnut Street School once stood. These homes will be energy efficient and include geothermal heating systems. There will be six units constructed, with one of the units being handicap-accessible.

Local Projects Create Quite a Stir in Town

It has been an exciting time in Berwick.  There have been projects popping up everywhere.  In the attached photographs, readers can view some of the ongoing projects in our community. The Mulberry Street Project, a reconstruction project funded by CDBG funds, was a street reconstruction project on the 100 block of Mulberry Street.  The project was completed in April by Don E. Bower, Inc.  for approximately $62,000.  The project included new curbing, handicap ramps, and a street reconstruction that eliminated the issues along the street. The Clover Hill Estates project is a project being completed by the Yoder Group.  The group is constructing town homes along the area between Good Avenue and Orange Street.  The project is nearing its completion. Not seen in photos is the construction project at Briar Manor.  Two new buildings are being constructed at the complex.  One building is completely handicap accessible. Berwick Area Little League has been working for nearly three years to prepare new baseball and softball fields at Test Track Park.  The Borough of Berwick is considering a sizeable donation to assist in the project, as the fields will serve as a cornerstone to the revitalization of the park. The Borough has recently applied for grant monies to complete a walking and biking trail that will connect Test Track Park to the downtown, along the Susquehanna River.  In addition, there have been several upgrades to the boat ramp area, and electricity has been added along the tree canopy in the park, for festivals and future events.  First Columbia Bank has helped revitalize our downtown area by purchasing the old Berwick Hotel and building a new bank in its place.  The project eliminated a 10-year battle to eliminate the blight of the condemned hotel.  The bank beautifully matches the local architecture surrounding it. The new municipal building is nearing its completion.  There is an Open House on May 1st.  In addition, there is an Open House the same day at the Jackson Mansion, which is being transformed into a very attractive museum. There are a number of other projects in the planning process or in their infant stages, although we have not listed all of them.  We are very excited for our community, as this is a time of growth and development, despite the national and local economies.

Central Susquehanna Community Foundation Building

The final details have been added to the new Central Susquehanna Community Foundation Building, located at the intersection of Front and Orange Streets.  The building is a state of the art facility, costing more than $1 million.  It includes geothermal heating and a host of other "green" features.  The Foundation is the host of the Berwick Health and Wellness Fund, created after the sale of the Berwick Hospital.  The Foundation focuses on health and wellness issues throughout the community and has begun to team with other communities in administering funds and grant programs.  We are proud to have this asset in our community.

Good Avenue Project

Another project is Clover Hills on Orange Street. This project includes the building of twelve (12) “townhouses”, which will be divided into two (2) units each for at total of twenty-four (24) units. These new buildings will be for rent only. This project will also include a community center near the cul-de-sac. This project is being developed by Central Susquehanna Development Group, Inc. who completed two other projects in the Borough: Monroe Estates and Spring Garden Avenue Terrace, which are apartment-style housing for the elderly.  The photo below is the site in which the buildings will be constructed.