EADC awaits funding for paving project

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

The former Moose Building in Elizabeth has been demolished, but there’s still no parking lot on the site as anticipated.

Larry Ross, president of the Elizabeth Area Development Corporation, updated borough council about the project this week, saying the EADC is waiting to hear from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, state level funding agency for the county’s Gaming Economic Development Tourism Fund, regarding funding now that the scope of work has changed.

The CFA approved the EADC for a $325,000 grant at its Oct. 12, 2019, meeting, but the funds haven’t been released, Ross said.

“This is the first time we’ve tried to undertake a project like this. It’s a learning experience for everyone,” Ross said.

The building has been torn down and the vacant lot is fenced, preventing people from falling into the hole that has been left until the project can be completed. Ross said the project will be finished.

“It looks far better than the Moose Building looked like. There were bricks falling down; the fire escape was hanging by a thread,” he said. “Nobody likes the length of time this is taking. It’s going to be done. We just have to be patient.”

Council members said the problem isn’t the length of time it’s taking for the project, but the fact that the EADC continues to apply for grants for downtown projects without discussing them with council. Ross said the EADC has been approved for a second grant from the gaming fund to remove bump outs on Second Street, redo sidewalks and install security cameras in the downtown area.

Bump outs are concrete structures used to slow down traffic.

“They do have another grant for $376,000 for bump outs, sidewalks and security cameras, and this project isn’t going to start until the other is finished and we’re working together,” Ross told council.

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