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Hazleton Wants the Public’s Opinion on Downtown Revitalization

HAZLETON — There may be a lot of empty storefronts on West Broad Street in Hazleton, but the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress hopes that’s no...

HAZLETON -- There may be a lot of empty storefronts on West Broad Street in Hazleton, but the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress hopes that's not the case for too much longer.

"People are starting to see the empty storefronts as an opportunity rather than dead space," said Krisa Schneider the executive director of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress.

Schneider wants to bring the city of Hazleton back to its heyday when people would shop, eat, and play all right in the downtown.

The city is in the middle of a revitalization project and the website DowntownHazleton.org is allowing people to have their own voice on what they want to see in the city.

"People can go on that site and vote for their ideas and if they have some of their own they can even add them and people can vote on those. So, it's a way for the public to get engaged," said Schneider.

A few of those new projects include changing an old bank into a new art center and the parking area next door into a new city park.

Denny Rodriguez of Hazleton said, "I have kids and anything that involves activities with the kids it would be good for them."

"Specialty types of stores. A little more in the way of restaurants as well," said Barbara Vilushis of Conynham.

The revitaliztion does not come free so for now the downtown Hazleton group is applying for both federal and state grants to make the ideas a reality.

"We'll file for main street designation with the state and hopefully get some grant money and be able to implement some of the plans," said Schneider.

The voting on the downtown Hazleton website runs until the end of the year.

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