We’re trying to be creative. We’re seeing some activity for self-storage in other communities’ downtowns.” – Jeff Raykes, the city’s planning director
Greensburg is looking to add self-storage facilities as an allowable use in the city’s business zoning district, to increase options for redeveloping dormant downtown properties.
Council will consider making that change at its July meeting.
Council also is moving forward with plans to enhance the city’s appearance — through the demolition of a fire-damaged house on Stanton Street and installation of a new community welcome sign on South Main Street.
Jeff Raykes, the city’s planning director, said the proposed expansion of self-storage zoning is a proactive step.
While no one has applied to place such a facility amid more traditional businesses in Greensburg, Raykes said, “We’re trying to be creative. We’re seeing some activity for self-storage in other communities’ downtowns.”
He pointed to the portion of the former Troutman’s department store that faces Pennsylvania Avenue as a building that might be suited for a storage business. He noted the building has no windows on the upper stories facing the street and remains unused.
In such a state, Raykes said, “Over time, those types of large buildings will degrade. “It’s just been sitting there for years. We’ve been trying to find a tenant. We’ve been doing everything possible to position that property for development. Expanding the zoning in terms of allowable uses is one of the ways we can do that.”
Currently, self-storage is indicated as an allowable use only in Greensburg’s industrial district, which includes outlying areas and some properties bordering the Five Star Trail.
The former Troutman’s building is among seven downtown properties in need of redevelopment that will be reviewed by a national team of real estate experts scheduled to visit Greensburg in July. The vacant lot on South Main, where the deteriorated Advance Furniture building recently was razed, will be among the other sites included in the review.
The team will issue a report on its findings that will serve as a prelude to bringing aboard a consultant to draft a downtown master plan. That planning process is being led by the Greensburg Community Development Corp. It recently kicked off with an initial meeting of a project steering committee.
