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| ALLEGHENY TOGETHER |
Allegheny Together endeavors to encourage well-planned, well-designed and geographically-focused investment in the established, urban commercial districts of Allegheny County while respecting the unique history, character, and built environment of each. The program aims to help organize and empower each community to fulfill its collective vision. |
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A PROGRAM OF
Alleghenty County Economic Development |
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Bridgeville Downtown Recognition Award
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On June 24, 2001, La Bella Bean opened its doors with aspirations to be "THE" place in Bridgeville to go for a cup of coffee. However, it didn't take long before it grew to be much more than that.
On a typical day at "The Bean", as our customers like to call it, you're likely to spot one of our many regulars. We love the regulars, not just for their unending loyalty, but for the wonderful character they bring to the shop. Another great thing about The Bean is that we are here every morning to help jump start the men and women working in Bridgeville. We take pride in our efforts to make everyone's morning just a little bit brighter.
We started out with a small menu and eventually word got around about the wonderful homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches we offer. Also, how can we forget the fresh and always-changing daily specials we create. They always seem to be our biggest crowd pleaser. In fact, as the years went on, we had to make a bigger menu to meet the growing demands of our highly-regarded fan base.
How can we forget the real star of the show? When it comes to drinks, we like to think we've perfected the cup of coffee. Along with the consult of java experts nationwide, The Bean has hand selected the finest beans from around the world. With a continually rotating line up of specialty drinks, there is always something here to get your caffeine fix.
Being a family-oriented business, it took the hard work, time and dedication of Gary and Debbie Massetti, Leslie and John Bonaccorsi, Maria and Clem Wandrisco and Jeff Massetti to make this place the neighborhood staple it is today. Keeping it all in the family, many of the employees are the sons, daughters, nieces and nephews of the family. Donna Massetti, more commonly known to all as "Nunny", gets much of the credit for creating The Bean's fresh, healthy, and diverse menu. Sadly, she has since passed on, but she is not forgotten. Her memory lives on through her wonderful recipes and her wonderful spirit that has made The Bean much more than a coffee shop. |
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Washington Avenue Streetscape Project
The Borough of Bridgeville Streetscape Project has come to fruition to mediate a public safety hazard. Due to the attainment of $228,000 with the assistance of Congressman Tim Murphy through HUD and assistance through the Allegheny Together Program, this project will move forward addressing raised sidewalks and ensuring a safe, pedestrian friendly business district for the residents and patrons of the Borough of Bridgeville. Monies have been awarded from the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County in the amount of $10,000 for the design of this project. An additional CDBG grant application in the amount of $152,000 has been submitted on behalf of the Borough to enhance the basic project and make the upgrades needed for a complete project that will sustain this area for years to come.
The design scope will include the Bridgeville Central Business District along Washington Avenue from Station Street to Hickman Street and portions of Railroad and Station Streets. Focus will be on achieving traffic calming and pedestrian safety through good design. Design will produce schematics related to placement and type of lighting, plantings and street furniture. Sidewalk, crosswalk and street pavement treatments will also be addressed including the removal of raised sidewalks and aged trees ensuring the Borough's commitment to providing a friendly walkable community. |
Upcoming Events
The Bridgeville Community Association and Bridgeville Borough sponsor several events during the year:
Homemade Bread and Pie Sale
St. George's
Year-round
November Book and Calendar Sale
Historic Society
Mystery Book Group at Library 
1st Wednesday of each month
Second Thursday Book Group
2nd Thursday of each month
Spaghetti Dinner at Holy Child School
November 1 from 4 to 7 PM
Relay for Life Event...Scrapbooking
Holy Child School
November 7
American Legion Veteran's Dinner 
November 14 at 6 PM
Christmas Tree Festival
Library
November 21-22
Thanksgiving Community Feast at Bethany Church
Volunteers Needed 4 to 6 PM
November 22
Light Up Night 
Dec 11 at 6:30 PM
Triangle Park
Children's Christmas Party
American Legion
December 12 at 1 PM
Caroling at Senior Centers and Nursing Homes
December 20
Meet at Bethany Church at 6 PM
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New Business Recruitment Tool
Are you looking for a storefront to buy or lease for your business location? Do you own a downtown property that is currently for sale or lease?
Be sure to check out www.downtownproperties.net! Town Center Associate's innovative new business recruitment program includes this website, which is one hundred percent devoted to properties for sale or lease in your downtown's central business district, as well as other local business districts.
DowntownProperties.net features the vacant/available downtown properties in your business district complete with:
- Property Photos
- Property Owner Contact Information
- Address Information
- The ability to add additional information to each listing, such as realtor contact information or details about the property
- Features that enable you to email listings to interested parties, map listings, as well as print listings
More than just a website, the DowntownProperties.net program offers key benefits to the municipality. Benefits include having a central source of property contact information, and a readily available resource to attract new businesses-by marketing vacancies and available properties.
Additionally, TCA will provide property owners with a FREE, colorful DowntownProperties.net poster to put in their vacant or available storefront window to demonstrate that the building is available.
If you have a vacant or available downtown property that is not currently listed on the site, let us know. Just send an email to tca@towncenter.info, or call us at 412-577-7447 or 724-728-0500. | |
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PHLF Update
The Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation (PHLF) is involved in main street revitalizations across Southwestern Pennsylvania. As we come across model examples in this work, we will make an effort to share them with our Allegheny Together partners. It may be that you will see an opportunity to take one of these ideas and tailor it to the circumstances that exist in your community.
In this issue, we want to highlight an investment trust that nine local women have set up in Leechburg, which is part of a State adopted regional main street program. The trust, known as Leechburg Investment Projects (LIPS), is a consortium set up by the women to develop viable businesses in downtown Leechburg, get them up and running on solid footing and then sell them. Sales proceeds will go back into the fund enabling them to focus on another business. LIPS intends to repeat this process until all of Leechburg's store fronts are filled.
The nine investors each put in $2,000, which has enabled the fund to launch its first business: Books and Beans, a used bookstore and coffee shop. The investor group includes a wealth of experience in setting up and operating successful small-scale retail. They are drawing on this experience, and putting in a lot of sweat equity, as they work toward a mid-October grand opening. Books and Beans will offer Presto George coffee & teas, gourmet breakfast and lunch items, free WIFI, a strong selection of used books, and audio book rentals.
LIPs is a great example of just how much a small group of committed volunteers can accomplish with limited funds. This includes:
- Creating new jobs.
- Rehabilitating old, empty storefronts in historic buildings.
- Diversifying the business mix in town.
- Involving experienced business-people to act as mentors for new owners.
- Building stronger relationships as a part of the project work.
If you are interested in learning more about LIPs to see if this model might work for your downtown, please call Ethan Raup at PHLF at 412 471 5808.
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| This e-newsletter was created by Town Center Asociates for the Allegheny Together Program of Allegheny County Economic Development. For more information about the Allegheny Together program, please visit www.alleghenytogether.com. |
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