Arthur Cordwell, three months into his tenure as executive director of the city redevelopment authority, has his sights set on continuing authority initiatives and making the Centre City project a reality.

Cordwell began work on Aug. 1, but outgoing director Perry O’Malley has stayed on with the authority ensure a smooth transition.

“Taking over, I wanted to find out where everything is at: Where does the redevelopment authority stand on its projects?” Cordwell said.

“That’s my number one goal, to see that development get started, particularly Centre City.”

The Centre City project proposes a hotel, an events center, and a parking garage in downtown. Independent studies have stated that Butler could support such a site.

Though the project is seemingly dormant, Cordwell is confident the authority can make Centre City a reality.

“I developed property, so I’m pretty familiar with the steps taken and how you go about getting these things done,” he said.

He was the executive director for the Community Development Corporation of Butler County from 1995 until 2005.

“The biggest challenge on a project is being able to determine if we can get the state funding,” he said.

State programs which could benefit Centre City are being revised under Gov. Tom Corbett.

“We’re kind of in a holding pattern while they get new program guidelines set up,” Cordwell said.

According to him, the state traditionally had numerous public project financing programs, but those now are being consolidated. Furthermore, the way in which those funds are paid out is changing.

Formerly, the redevelopment authority would have to apply to each of those programs for assistance. Now, the state reviews the authority’s requests for funding and contacts individual programs that may be able to help.

“We’re working with several developers (on Centre City) to bring them in as co-developers, along with the authority,” Cordwell said.

Under the current funding plan, developers would provide private funding while the authority would bring tax credits and public funding.

Cordwell identified three factors that affect Centre City’s financial future: a tax increment funding (TIF) guarantee, new market tax credits and redevelopment assistance.

“If any two of those move ahead, we can trigger ‘Let’s start digging,’” Cordwell said.

He said the state expects to release new market tax credits, awarded as part of the federal Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Authorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, by the end of the year.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority handles the TIF Guarantee Program, which provides credit enhancement for TIF projects.

The proposed Centre City area, primarily between Cunningham and Jefferson streets on the east side of Butler’s Main Street, has already been approved as a TIF district, but there is no timeline for funding, Cordwell said.

Redevelopment grants, many of which come in the form of Community Development Block Grants, still are being restructured by the state, something that could take several more months, Cordwell said.

In the meantime, he said the authority is focusing on other projects, such as generating interest in other buildings it owns and renovating them for use.

“If we go and renovate a building, do we have someone who wants to rent or lease it?” he said. “Otherwise, there is not much point.”

Cordwell said work continues in cooperation with the county housing authority on the authority’s West End revitalization.

The focus there is to encourage owner-occupied housing and assist those owners in fixing up their properties as well as paving streets and beautifying the neighborhoods.

Regarding Main Street, despite the facade work done at the Penn Theater last month for safety reasons, no construction or renovation of that landmark building is under way.

Cordwell said drawings are completed for the facade of the renovated theater, but the authority needs to find someone interested in owning and operating the theater after renovations are complete.

That ownership must have a plan and the ability to run the theater to pay its bills.

Juggling the numerous projects started the day he took office, but Cordwell said the transition has been eased by O’Malley’s presence.

“It has gone well. (O’Malley) has been more than willing to sit down with me to discuss projects,” Cordwell said.