GSSD looks back on first-year accomplishments at annual meeting

    By
  • Daniel Pasquarello
    • November 13, 2014
  • Today, the Nor-Lea apartments (left) and a former camera shop are on West Beaver Avenue at the same location. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Today, the Nor-Lea apartments (left) and a former camera shop are on West Beaver Avenue at the same location. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • A group of workers build the former Bershire House on West Beaver Avenue in State College, Pa. circa 1916. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    A group of workers build the former Bershire House on West Beaver Avenue in State College, Pa. circa 1916. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Brayden King, 4, lies on top of the Nittany Lion Shrine as his grandmother looks on. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Brayden King, 4, lies on top of the Nittany Lion Shrine as his grandmother looks on. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Sculptor Heinz Warneke at the base of the Nittany Lion Shrine. He created the sculpture out of Indiana limestone in 1942. The shrine was a gift from the class of 1940. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    Sculptor Heinz Warneke at the base of the Nittany Lion Shrine. He created the sculpture out of Indiana limestone in 1942. The shrine was a gift from the class of 1940. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

  • Students exit The State Theater after a matinee show. The theater closed for five years and was reopened after renovations in 2006 as a community performance venue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Students exit The State Theater after a matinee show. The theater closed for five years and was reopened after renovations in 2006 as a community performance venue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Patrons wait in line for tickets at The State Theater. Warner Brothers opened the theater in 1938. The company tested four different films each week and charged 30 cents for a matinee, 35 cents for an evening feature. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    Patrons wait in line for tickets at The State Theater. Warner Brothers opened the theater in 1938. The company tested four different films each week and charged 30 cents for a matinee, 35 cents for an evening feature. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

  • The local chapter of Sigma Nu on Burrows Street was founded in 1909. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    The local chapter of Sigma Nu on Burrows Street was founded in 1909. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Sigma Nu fraternity house on Penn State Campus (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    Sigma Nu fraternity house on Penn State Campus (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

  • Members of the Penn State Blue Band percussion section rehearse before an upcoming home game. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Members of the Penn State Blue Band percussion section rehearse before an upcoming home game. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Penn State’s Blue Band performs in 1949. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

    Penn State’s Blue Band performs in 1949. (Image courtesy of the Penn State University Archives)

  • State College’s Schlow Centre Region Library on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    State College’s Schlow Centre Region Library on the corner of Beaver Avenue and Allen Street. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Debris of a building and tree shown on an empty lot at the intersection of Beaver Ave and Allen Street in downtown State College circa 1930. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    Debris of a building and tree shown on an empty lot at the intersection of Beaver Ave and Allen Street in downtown State College circa 1930. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Today, the Berkey Creamery is located on the first floor of the Food Science Building. The Creamery still makes homemade ice cream as well as cheese, sour cream and frozen yogurt. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Today, the Berkey Creamery is located on the first floor of the Food Science Building. The Creamery still makes homemade ice cream as well as cheese, sour cream and frozen yogurt. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • The State College Creamery seen in 1908. The Creamery’s ice cream short course first began in 1892. A quart of milk at the Creamery was sold for 5 cents. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    The State College Creamery seen in 1908. The Creamery’s ice cream short course first began in 1892. A quart of milk at the Creamery was sold for 5 cents. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • The Nittany Lion Inn was built in 1931 and is one of two hotels located on campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    The Nittany Lion Inn was built in 1931 and is one of two hotels located on campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Front entrance to Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    Front entrance to Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Senior Leah Eder from Lansdale, Pennsylvania poses for a graduation portrait in front of the Hintz Family Alumni Center as sophomore Brianna Basile from Macungie, Pa. takes her photo. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Senior Leah Eder from Lansdale, Pennsylvania poses for a graduation portrait in front of the Hintz Family Alumni Center as sophomore Brianna Basile from Macungie, Pa. takes her photo. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Miss Billy Cassin (left) and Clarea Tuttle walk near Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    Miss Billy Cassin (left) and Clarea Tuttle walk near Penn State campus. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • A sellout crowd wears mostly white, as part of a 'white-out' during a recent football game between Penn State and Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

    A sellout crowd wears mostly white, as part of a 'white-out' during a recent football game between Penn State and Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

  • Fans watch a pre-game ceremony honoring the 1909 football team before the first game played at Beaver Stadium in 1960. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    Fans watch a pre-game ceremony honoring the 1909 football team before the first game played at Beaver Stadium in 1960. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • A group of students play intramural flag football on a fall evening at Penn State University. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    A group of students play intramural flag football on a fall evening at Penn State University. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Penn State football team circa 1900. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    Penn State football team circa 1900. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Natalie DeSisto, a junior from Pittsburgh, studies general science at Saint’s Cafe on Beaver Avenue in downtown State College. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Natalie DeSisto, a junior from Pittsburgh, studies general science at Saint’s Cafe on Beaver Avenue in downtown State College. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • An unidentified woman studies at the Grange Memorial Dormitory for Girls — now known as the Grange Building. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    An unidentified woman studies at the Grange Memorial Dormitory for Girls — now known as the Grange Building. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Pedestrians cross in front of The Corner Room at the intersection of College Avenue and S. Allen Street steps away from Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Pedestrians cross in front of The Corner Room at the intersection of College Avenue and S. Allen Street steps away from Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • A group gathers outside of The Nittany Inn, later known as Hotel State College in downtown State College, on the corner of College Avenue and S. Allen Street, circa 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    A group gathers outside of The Nittany Inn, later known as Hotel State College in downtown State College, on the corner of College Avenue and S. Allen Street, circa 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Emily Flanigan (far left), a Junior studying mechanical engineering at Penn State, waits at a bus stop with other students on College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Emily Flanigan (far left), a Junior studying mechanical engineering at Penn State, waits at a bus stop with other students on College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • Penn State coeds circa 1911. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    Penn State coeds circa 1911. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Students enter Penn State campus near Old Main Lawn and College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Students enter Penn State campus near Old Main Lawn and College Avenue. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • One of the entrances to Penn State campus in the winter of 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    One of the entrances to Penn State campus in the winter of 1912. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • In 1929, the original building was razed and replaced by Old Main which stands as an administrative building and campus landmark today. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    In 1929, the original building was razed and replaced by Old Main which stands as an administrative building and campus landmark today. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

  • A view of the original Old Main known as 'Main Building' at Penn State circa 1863-1894. Made of limestone, the building was designed and constructed around the 1850’s. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    A view of the original Old Main known as 'Main Building' at Penn State circa 1863-1894. Made of limestone, the building was designed and constructed around the 1850’s. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Children play near Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue in State College, Pennsylvania with the original Old Main in the distance circa 1885. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

    Children play near Pugh Street and Beaver Avenue in State College, Pennsylvania with the original Old Main in the distance circa 1885. (Image courtesy of the Centre County Historical Society)

  • Bird’s eye view of downtown State College, Pa. from near Pugh Street. The bell tower of Old Main (far left) peaks over the trees on Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

    Bird’s eye view of downtown State College, Pa. from near Pugh Street. The bell tower of Old Main (far left) peaks over the trees on Penn State campus. (Lindsay Lazarski/WHYY)

Germantown Special Services District (GSSD) President Joe Martin was a bit excited at a Tuesday night meeting that marked the group’s first annual gathering.

“We got nine trash cans in our first year of operations!” he said of the brand-new waste receptacles along Chelten Avenue that the organization procured from the city.

That wasn’t all they talked about during a GSSD annual meeting that drew board members, city officials and volunteers to Treasures Banquet Hall.

“Germantown is a very good place to be today,” said Martin. “Tonight’s event is highlighting the excitement of living and working in this neighborhood.

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“Our accomplishments over the past year are indications that things are happening. This is how change begins.”

Formation and launch

In Sept. 2012, Eighth District City Councilwoman Cindy Bass appointed a steering committee to reconvene the GSSD, which had gone dormant.

City Council approved the organization’s proposed five-year plan in June 2013 and soon after appointed a new board of directors.

The GSSD has since started implementing a plan with a goal “to benefit the Germantown business corridor with funding provided through the collection of tax assessments from property owners.”

Martin presented Bass with a plaque officially recognizing her role in bringing a revamped GSSD back to life.

“The GSSD is very important to me,” she said. “What happens here in Germantown resonates throughout the 8th District. It’s really the piece that connects all the neighborhoods in this area.”

By the numbers

GSSD has collected assessments from 78 percent of business property owners under its oversight, which exceeded projected collection rates.

(The district focuses on commercial properties fronting on Germantown Avenue between Coulter and High streets, Chelten between Baynton and Morris, along with Maplewood Mall, Market Square and sections of Greene Street and Wayne, Pulaski and Maplewood avenues.)

Funding from assessments, grants and contributions from local non-profit organizations totaled $187,645.35.

Part of that tally was used to hire GSSD Corridor Director Anthony Dean.

The organization also received a $25,000 grant from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. An additional “Enhancement Grant” was used to purchase and install nine new “Big Belly” waste receptacles.

Future goals

Over the course of the next year, GSSD hopes to bring about holiday lighting and decorations, planters and landscaping improvements, district-identity signage and public art, while continuing to develop existing improvement programs.

“You’ve heard what GSSD is, what we’ve done, and where we hope to go,” said Martin. “We’ve seen what it’s going to take to make this work: Collaboration.

“What we’re doing at GSSD, what we want to see happen in Germantown, is going to involve all of us working together.”

Expressed appreciation

Jason Miller is the newly appointed executive director of Ready Willing and Able (RWA), a program “providing paid transitional work, occupational training, housing, and comprehensive support services to homeless individuals.”

RWA has contracted with the GSSD to provide five-day-a-week street-cleaning services within the district.

“On behalf of all the 70 men that serve this district, thank you,” he told the group.

According to Miller, more than 80 percent of RWA participants are coming out of prison, while more than 90 percent have a history of addiction.

“We get people out of poverty,” said Miller. “In the shelters throughout the city, the biggest obstacle people are struggling with is lack of opportunity. We provide that.”

Over the past year, the “Men in Blue” averaged a collection rate of more than 400 bags of trash a month. The overwhelming success of RWA’s involvement with Germantown led the organization to begin training new participants in its program in the neighborhood on a sixth day.

“I’ve stood at the corner of Germantown and Chelten on some mornings and it’s been clean,” Martin reported. “This is no small accomplishment.

“Business owners that have paid an assessment to GSSD reported to me that they are very happy to see the results of the improvements we are making with the help of RWA.”

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