Downtown Erie
Downtown Erie, is the central business, cultural and government center for the city of Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. Erie’s downtown is comprised of a 70 block area. From the foot of State Street to 14th Street and from Holland to Sassafras is the downtown area. Downtown Erie’s popular landmarks included the Warner Theatre, the Bicentennial Tower, and the historic Boston Store. Erie’s Central Business District includes Gannon University, Hamot Hospital, Erie Insurance, and city and county government offices, as well as other non-government related commercial retail and office development. Nearly 20,000 people work in downtown Erie. Residential development in downtown is in both apartment high-rises and in the upper floor of mixed/ commercial/residential use buildings are located downtown. As of 2000, 2,690 people lived downtown.
Downtown Districts
Downtown Erie is divided into 3 different areas, Bayfront district,downtown center city and midtown.
Bayfront District
Bayfront district is home to much of downtown’s employers. It is home to Gannon University, Hamot Hospital, and Erie Insurance. The Bayfront district is also where the Bayfront Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel are located. The Blasco Library, Erie Maritime Museum, Erie Art Museum, restaurants, bars and marinas are all located in the Bayfront district.
Center City
Center City is where many of the Erie’s sky scrapers are located. The Renaissance Centre is Erie’s larges building. Located in the center city are: The Boston Store, The Warner Theatre, Louis J. Tullio Arena, Jerry Uht Park, Perry Square, restaurants, bars and night clubs as well as many retail shops. Center City is also home to 14 banks.
Midtown
Midtown, located from 12th to 14th streets, is where the US Post Office, Union Station, as well as nightclubs, restaurants, and residential apartments are located. As of fall 2009 Midtown renovations of the 5-story Mercantile Building and Griswold Plaza are complete. Set for ground breaking this fall are new townhouses around the Midtown area.
Downtown Redevelopment
The Erie Redevelopment Authority made a master plan to redevelopment the entire downtown area. As of fall 2009 the first phase is nearly complete. The first phase was the redevelopment of midtown. Other redevelopments of the downtown include: $42 million dollar renovation to the Tullio Arena, streetscape improvements to 12th street, facade improvements to many downtown buildings, new building and retail development and new townhouses and residential condos along the bayfront bluffs.