May 31--CARLISLE -- Plans to revitalize Carlisle's northwest quadrant have garnered state and federal grant support and are generating interest among potential hotels and restaurants, Carlisle's borough council president told the area's business leaders Thursday.

Council President Perry Heath presented an abbreviated version of the draft Carlisle Urban Development Plan to the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce's State of Carlisle: Economic Drivers breakfast.

The plan, unveiled last week by Stromberg/Garrigan & Associates, would make transportation-related improvements to the borough's northwest

quadrant while transforming three former industrial sites into mixed-use residential and commercial development.

That matches preliminary plans previously announced by Carlisle Events, which could include a hotel, restaurant and shops, at the former International Automotive Components site off of Carlisle Springs Road. Carlisle Events owns the IAC site.

Carlisle Events spokesman Michael Garland recently said those elements would support the company's core business and replace lost jobs.

Improvements to on-site infrastructure will be the responsibility of the developers who already are locating grants to assist with the work, Heath said.

Carlisle Events was recently awarded a $2 million grant from the state redevelopment assistance capital program administered by the state Office of the Budget. The program provides purchase and construction funding for projects with significant potential for improving economic growth and job creation.

Cumberland County Redevelopment Authority received a $200,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency through its Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Program. The program provides funds for communities to develop plans for assessing, cleaning and reusing former industrial sites.

Heath said the total cost of the redevelopment plan to the borough won't be known until traffic studies are completed. The final version will include a financial strategy to address those costs.

Officials expect costs to be balanced by the anticipated effects of adding jobs and bringing visitors into the community.

"The real win for the borough is the increased assessed value of the properties to bring in tax revenue," Heath said.

Heath also reported progress on drawing commercial businesses to the sites. He said two hotels are "at the table" for a spot at the former IAC site, and three restaurants are seriously interested in the sites. He emphasized there is no deal yet.

Landing agreements with those businesses would be the role of the property owners, not the borough, and ultimately decisions about what will be built on the sites rests with them.

Heath also said there are two proposals for the purchase of the Carlisle Tire and Wheel property, but the potential buyers have been waiting for the results of the study before moving forward.

Even with that interest, Heath said it will be a year to 18 months before buildings appear on the sites due to continued cleanup and the need to acquire approval from the Department of Environmental Protection for the work.

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Posted earlier on Cumberlink:

CARLISLE -- Companies are showing interest in Carlisle's former industrial sites even as debris is still being cleared.

Two hotels are "at the table" for a spot at the former International Automotive Components site, said Perry Heath, president of borough council, at the Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce's State of Carlisle: Economic Drivers breakfast.

Heath also said three restaurants are seriously interested in the site.

Even with that interest, Heath said it will be a year to 18 months before buildings appear on the sites due to continued clean up and the need to acquire approval from the Department of Environmental Protection for the work.

Heath said there are currently two sales proposals at the Carlisle Tire & Wheel site.

For more on this story, check back to Cumberlink.com and read The Sentinel's print edition on Friday.

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