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Heritage Plaza to host street fair

DABC event won’t close streets this year

Last May, for the Downtown Altoona Business Community’s first street fair, police closed off 11th Avenue — a closure that displeased some business owners, particularly Bill Sell of Bill Sell’s Bold restaurant.

DABC is planning a second street fair for Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5 — but without the controversial closure.

“I abhor closing down streets,” said DABC President Suzanne Border at a recent meeting of the Greater Altoona Economic Development Corp.

This year, the organization will hold the fair at Heritage Plaza, on the Railroaders Memorial Museum property, on the 13th Street crossover, in the 10th Avenue parking lot and in the Silver Chief parklet on the 1300 block of 11th Avenue, Border told members of the corporation board.

Last year’s street closing was a “bone of contention,” said corporation CEO Patrick Miller.

Sell publicized his dissatisfaction with what happened several months after last year’s event, about the time when city development officials convened a meeting to discuss what should happen for this year’s downtown events.

The closure last year was especially troublesome because it occurred on Mother’s Day weekend, one of the two busiest days of the year for him, Sell said last fall.

His restaurant remained open, but the closure discouraged potential customers, especially older ones, Sell said at that time.

This year, the event will be held the weekend before Mother’s Day.

There will be rides and vendors at the museum; vendors on the crossover, on the 10th Avenue lot and in the Silver Chief parklet; and stage entertainment, a kids’ zone and first responder recognition at Heritage Plaza, Border said.

There also will be strolling entertainment, including magicians, Border said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.

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