Restore the Core
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URBAN CORE

Urban (adjective) - of, relating to, or designating a city.
Core (noun) - the central, innermost, or most essential part of anything. 
An urban core is an area of high population density that serves as the commercial, cultural, political, historical and geographic heart of a city. 
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RESTORE THE CORE

Conditions are ripe for revitalization in Erie's urban core. Capital Gains Tax Incentives, like Opportunity Zone investing, and tax abatement programs, like Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA), are being explored as tools to assist with bringing vibrancy and vitality back into the City of Erie. 

Restore the Core is a play on the word restoration while also bringing attention to the need for more commercial stores to be present in Erie's urban core. The project is administered by Erie Arts & Culture through its New Horizons initiative, with support from the Erie Community Foundation and the Erie Downtown Development Corporation. Erie Arts & Culture invited Ashley Pastore, an Erie based artist, to explore creative ways to engage members of the community around what types of businesses they'd like to see present in their neighborhoods and within Downtown Erie. Restore the Core encourages community members to think creatively and share their ideas about how underutilized commercial properties found within Erie's existing building stock could be re-imagined as neighborhood assets. Community engagement is an important part of redevelopment, because as both public and private entities work to create a world class Downtown, it is vital that the community feels their voices are being heard and their needs are being addressed. 

Ashley created an original design for the project.  This design was then made into posters using the process of woodblock printing. Posters were wheatpasted to building surfaces and city sidewalks. Ashley selected bold colors not typically found in Erie's urban landscape to capture people's attention and stimulate creative thinking. 

Erie Arts & Culture worked with the Erie Downtown Partnership, Erie Downtown Development Corporation, Our West Bayfront, the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network, Bayfront East Side Taskforce, and ServErie to identify properties. The project went live in August 2019. You're invited to share your ideas below!
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SHARE YOUR IDEAS

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This commercial space is located on State Street between 4th and 5th street. It was formerly a sandwich shop. South of the building is McDonald's.  North of the building is a Chinese restaurant. Adjacent blocks are slated for redevelopment through the Erie Downtown Development Corporation. 
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Perry Square
  • Erie Art Museum
  • expERIEnce Children's Museum
  • Hamot Hospital
  • Erie Insurance
  • Gannon University
  • City Hall
  • Erie County Courthouse
  • Erie Federal Courthouse
  • The Erie Club
  • Restaurants
  • Coffee shops
  • Bars
  • Rental housing
  • Single family homes
Submit
This commercial space is located on West 4th Street between Peach Street and State Street. West of the building is a bed and breakfast, which opened in 2018, and Tickle's Deli. 
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Perry Square
  • Erie Art Museum
  • expERIEnce Children's Museum
  • Hamot Hospital
  • Erie Insurance
  • Gannon University
  • City Hall
  • Erie County Courthouse
  • Erie Federal Courthouse
  • The Erie Club
  • Restaurants
  • Coffee shops
  • Bars
  • Rental housing
  • Single family homes
Submit
This commercial space is located on French Street between East 7th and E 8th. North of this building is a union hall.  South of this building is a vacant commercial storefront that was formerly a night club.  The immediate block south is being redeveloped by Erie Insurance. 
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Perry Square
  • Erie Insurance
  • The Warner Theater
  • The Erie Playhouse
  • DramaShop
  • Erie Insurance Arena
  • UPMC Park
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Rental housing
  • Single family homes
Submit
This commercial space is located on French Street between East 7th and E 8th. It was formerly a night club. North of this building is a vacant commercial storefront.  South of this building is a vacant commercial storefront.  The immediate block south is being redeveloped by Erie Insurance. 
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Perry Square
  • Erie Insurance
  • The Warner Theater
  • The Erie Playhouse
  • DramaShop
  • Erie Insurance Arena
  • UPMC Park
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Rental housing
  • Single family homes
Submit
This commercial space is located on French Street between East 7th and E 8th. North of this building is a vacant commercial storefront.  South of this building is a vacant commercial storefront. The immediate block south is being redeveloped by Erie Insurance. 
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Perry Square
  • Erie Insurance
  • The Warner Theater
  • The Erie Playhouse
  • DramaShop
  • Erie Insurance Arena
  • UPMC Park
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Rental housing
  • Single family homes
Submit
This commercial space is located on French Street between East 7th and E 8th. North of this building is a vacant commercial storefront.  South of this building is a vacant commercial storefront. The immediate block south is being redeveloped by Erie Insurance.  
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Perry Square
  • Erie Insurance
  • The Warner Theater
  • The Erie Playhouse
  • DramaShop
  • Erie Insurance Arena
  • UPMC Park
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Rental housing
  • Single family homes
Submit
This commercial space is located on the corner of East 8th Street and Holland Street. It was formerly a tire warehouse and service shop.  The immediate block Northwest is being redeveloped by Erie Insurance.  
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Perry Square
  • Erie Insurance
  • The Warner Theater
  • The Erie Playhouse
  • DramaShop
  • Erie Insurance Arena
  • UPMC Park
  • Restaurants
  • Bars
  • Rental housing
  • Single family homes
Submit
This commercial space is located on State Street between 14th and 15th Street. It shares a building with the downtown post office. Above this ground floor property are residential condos. 
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • PACA
  • Kellar's: A Modern Magic and Comedy Club
  • Lovell Place (commercial and residential)
  • Breweries
  • Restaurants
  • Bars​
Submit
This commercial space is located onW 8th Street and Chestnut Street between Myrtle Street and Sassafras Street. It was previously a bar and the sale includes the equipment. Proximate to the property is mixed income residential and other commercial properties. West 8th Street has potential to serve as a commercial corridor for Erie’s lower west side. Our West Bayfront is the neighborhood organization serving this area and working to revitalize the neighborhood.
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Gannon University
  • Bayview Park
  • Gridley Park
  • Frontier Park
  • Strong Vincent Middle School
  • Downtown Erie
  • 12th Street Industrial Corridor
  • Mix-income/Low-income Housing
Submit
This commercial space is located on the corner of W 8th Street and Chestnut Street. It has struggled to achieve its potential for over a decade. It was once slated to open as an Asian fusion and sushi restaurant. Prior to that, with a cozy interior and dark wood accents, it was not your average corner bar. The property features a side patio, now overgrown. Proximate to the block is mixed income residential and other commercial properties. West 8th Street has potential to serve as a commercial corridor for Erie’s lower west side. Our West Bayfront is the neighborhood organization serving this area and working to revitalize the neighborhood.
Within walking distance of this location is:
  • Gannon University
  • Bayview Park
  • Gridley Park
  • Frontier Park
  • Strong Vincent Middle School
  • Downtown Erie
  • 12th Street Industrial Corridor
  • Mix-income/Low-income Housing
You can also submit your suggestions on the Restore Erie Instagram account (@restore_erie)

ZIP CODES IN ERIE'S URBAN CORE

16501
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16502
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16503
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16507
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Learn More about Erie's Urban Core by clicking HERE
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