Pocono News Section

Mount Carmel Revitalization Plans

Mount Carmel Revitalization Plans - Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:05PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Jul 28, 2008 @ 08:05pm EST
MOUNT CARMEL, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY - A Northumberland County community is getting ready to make a comeback. A new group is forming to revitalize the borough of Mount Carmel. The goal is to bring more businesses and people downtown.

Downtown Mount Carmel is a place where people have grown-up and lived-in for decades. They remember what it was like when coal was king.

"On a Saturday night, you couldn't walk down Oak Street here without bumping into somebody. It was that crowded. Now, it's pretty much dead," Charlie Matukaitis said.

Empty store fronts now litter the downtown corridor, but the new group "Mount Carmel Downtown Inc," wants to change that. They've converted the first floor of the historic Guarantee Trust Building into their headquarters. People who live in Mount Carmel have plenty of suggestions.

"There's really nothing to do. You see kids hanging out a lot and there's really nothing for them to do. Find something for the kids to do," Mark Ososkie suggested.

People say another key to bringing back Mount Carmel is getting more industry and jobs in town.

"It needs less of Wal-Mart and less of the malls and more of people being able to walk up and down Oak Street and shop store to store," Terry Cress said.

Art Catino is one of the owners of a Candy & Gift Shop in Mount Carmel. His family has run businesses in town since the 1940s. He's excited about the possibilities of the new group.

"We're excited about it. It's a shot. Things have not been so good over the last couple years and this is a breathe of fresh air," Catino said.