Downtown Living In Northeastern Pennsylvania
Downtown Living in Northeastern Pennsylvania
Downtown living is a different way of life, especially in Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA). Whether it’s Scranton or Wilkes-Barre, residents enjoy more amenities within reach and a different approach to everyday life than in many surrounding communities.
Downtown living provides options, not only for how people conduct their daily activities, but also for how they interact with their community.
Downtown living in NEPA is often viewed as the opposite of the more rural lifestyle many residents experience. Most of our school districts serve children from small towns and countryside communities. Heck, even some locals joke that driving into downtown Scranton is like entering “the big city.”
Yet many residents have relocated here from major metropolitan areas. To them, Scranton offers downtown living on a much smaller and more manageable scale.
Scranton’s History and Continued Revitalization
The Electric City, as Scranton is also known, was built on the shoulders of coal-mining families and has evolved into something of a regional legend.
On November 30, 1886, the first streetcar system powered entirely by electricity debuted in downtown Scranton. Neighborhoods that once centered around Irish, Italian, Polish, German, and Jewish communities have evolved into a cultural melting pot that continues to shape the city today.
You can see that influence throughout the local dining scene, from Thai Rak Thai to north-side favorites like Casa Bella and Ipanema Grille.
Today, there’s a new-found sense of hope for a rebirth movement in this city.
What Makes Downtown Living Successful?
The rebirth of a city plays a major role in downtown living done right.
Some of the key ingredients include:
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Mixed-use commercial development
- Gathering spaces for recreation, education, and entertainment
- A strong residential presence
- Accessible and affordable parking
While these aren’t the only factors that help a downtown thrive, they should be on everyone’s radar.
We believe Scranton is building toward something spectacular. There is still work to be done, but economic revitalization efforts led by the city and organizations such as Scranton Tomorrow have made a significant impact. It’s difficult to overstate how important this volunteer-driven organization has been to transforming downtown Scranton in recent years.
Building a Walkable Downtown Community
Walkability is one of the foundations of successful downtown living.
Wide sidewalks, decorative streetscapes, green spaces, and efforts to reduce graffiti and litter all help create a more welcoming environment for pedestrians.
A mixed-use mindset regarding development is equally important. Residents want to feel connected to the larger community around them. They want convenient access to businesses, services, and gathering places while still feeling like they’re part of something bigger.
Community connection goes beyond shopping and dining. Events, breweries, performing arts centers, fairs, movie theaters, parks, and artisan markets all contribute to the kind of downtown living experience that attracts both residents and visitors.
People want downtown living to feel like their city’s family room, especially during evenings and weekends.
Downtown Living After COVID
Since COVID, many businesses throughout NEPA have adapted in creative ways.
Restaurants and pubs have expanded outdoor dining opportunities, converted underutilized spaces, and created semi-covered patios and gathering areas. Hotels, convention centers, and other businesses have also adjusted, but local restaurants have often led the way in reimagining how people experience downtown spaces.
These changes have helped create a more lively and flexible downtown environment for residents and visitors alike.
The Future of Downtown Living in Scranton
One encouraging trend for downtown living has been the decline in vacant commercial space.
When businesses lease additional space, expand operations, or invest in the downtown area, the entire community wins. Likewise, when developers focus on creating spaces that support a balanced lifestyle rather than serving a single purpose, downtown districts become more attractive places to live, work, and spend time.
In Scranton, Noteology is one example of a business that has continued investing in the downtown area and contributing to its growth.
Successful downtown living is ultimately about creating a shared experience for residents and visitors. When people create memories, build connections, and develop a sense of place, the foundation for a thriving downtown begins to take shape.
Successful downtowns don’t sprout up overnight. They take time, hard work, cooperation, vision, patience, and community support.
Creating a true live-work-play environment in Scranton, or anywhere, takes all of these elements working together.
* Image courtesy of Discover NEPA
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