Transformed town on display
SAXONBURG — Following the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau's Toast to Tourism event at Cooper Hall, attendees and residents on Thursday got a chance to see the borough's recently transformed Main Street.
Jack Cohen, president of the bureau, said it was nice to have an event that featured the borough.
“It's beautiful,” Cohen said.
The recent upgrades included having the streets widened by 18 inches, and brick sidewalks and new curbs were installed. Additionally, large trees were removed and new, stylistic street lights added. Business owners also got together to encourage more economic activity.
For Thursday's event, Main Street was closed to traffic. Guests were able to tour businesses, and people could ride horse-drawn carriages and see others dressed up in historical costumes.
Mayor Pam Bauman said the revitalization project took years, but was finished in time for the borough's fall festival and Christmas parade in 2013.
She said the changes are amazing and said the old sidewalks were crumbling and broken.
“It's a stunning town,” Bauman said.
Brian Antoszyk, a former mayor and borough councilman, also said the revitalization made a large difference.“Big improvement,” Antoszyk said.He said discussions about the revitalization began in 1997.“I definitely think it's helped the businesses in town,” Antoszyk said.Leeanna Johnston, owner of Kelley's Family Restaurant, said she likes the way the Main Street looks now.“I really like the lights,” Johnston, who grew up in the borough and now lives in Sarver, said.Initially, some of the physical work was inconvenient to her and other business owners, but she said the end result is great.“I'm happy with the way it looks,” Johnston said.She said there are several more businesses in town, which helps existing ones.“You get a lot more people walking,” Johnston said.Among the visitors to Saxonburg this week was a contingent from the borough's sister city in Germany.
