Downtown Altoona ramps up curb appeal
Chalk murals, plants, outdoor seating invite people to linger
Penn State Altoona volunteer students draw blue-and-white murals with sidewalk chalk at the 11th Avenue Altoona Transportation Center Garage. Courtesy photo
City Mayor Matt Pacifico sits outside The Clay Cup and Wildfire Boutique Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Bunches of bananas were displayed this summer outside of The Clay Cup. Courtesy photo
Murals made with sidewalk chalk are on display underneath the Altoona Transportation Center Garage in downtown Altoona. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Penn State Altoona volunteer students draw murals with sidewalk chalk at the 11th Avenue Altoona Transportation Center Garage. Courtesy photo
Murals in sidewalk chalk are seen on the walls at Altoona Transportation Center Garage downtown. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Penn State Altoona volunteer students draw blue-and-white murals with sidewalk chalk at the 11th Avenue Altoona Transportation Center Garage. Courtesy photo
City Mayor Matt Pacifico sits outside The Clay Cup and Wildfire Boutique Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Bunches of bananas were displayed this summer outside of The Clay Cup. Courtesy photo
Murals made with sidewalk chalk are on display underneath the Altoona Transportation Center Garage in downtown Altoona. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
Penn State Altoona volunteer students draw murals with sidewalk chalk at the 11th Avenue Altoona Transportation Center Garage. Courtesy photo
Murals in sidewalk chalk are seen on the walls at Altoona Transportation Center Garage downtown. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow
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Local officials and business owners are collaborating to make downtown Altoona more inviting this summer with sidewalk chalk murals, plants and outdoor seating.
Main Street Manager Jamie Foust said the city's goal is to bring more people downtown and create a sense of community with upcoming city-sponsored events, markets and art.
"We're always looking for opportunities to encourage people to stay downtown longer," she said.
Sidewalk chalk
According to Mayor Matt Pacifico, Foust started setting out sidewalk chalk in Heritage Plaza, typically after their summer farmer's market, to encourage kids to be creative.
Parking manager David Curtis said a local girl was disappointed when it rained last Thursday. Noticing that the girl was upset, Curtis said that city parking enforcement officer Bob Gattrell suggested the Altoona Transportation Center Garage.
"It made her day, and we left it up," he said while gesturing at the garage's chalk murals.
"We've gotten compliments," he said. "It's very friendly, cheery and welcoming."
They also incorporated sidewalk chalk into their public events downtown, including their Art Walk held on Aug. 8.
Foust said they set buckets of chalk outside downtown businesses for the Art Walk, so store owners could join in on the fun as well.
Foust said offering kids sidewalk chalk can make downtown more appealing to patrons.
"When people walk or drive down the street and see sidewalk chalk, it's a family-friendly space; kids were here spending time working on this," she said.
Outdoor plants and seating
Local businesses are also breathing new life into the downtown area by incorporating plants and outdoor seating.
Emily McCarty, owner of eco boutique Wildfire, draws with chalk on nearby sidewalks, displays an outdoor chalkboard that changes weekly and incorporates flowers and hanging plants outside of her storefront.
Outdoor seating, illuminated signage and vinyl on windows are also final touches she adds to the outside of her store.
"Our vibrant flowers and Boston ferns create an inviting way to bring interest and color to my facade as people drive and walk by," she said. "We always get compliments on our well-taken-care-of flowers. People often can't believe they're real."
Thinking about curb appeal, McCarty said it's important to add life outside of a storefront to show that the business is not only cared for but open.
The Clay Cup owner, Sarah Vogel, also incorporates creative drawings on her storefront's large windows. This summer, she showed off bushels of bananas using white markers.
Foust said outdoor plants and seating are other ways to bring people into downtown after stopping in for a doctor's appointment or a lunch date.
"We want to work with the businesses to help improve the look and feel of downtown," she said.
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.