CLEARFIELD – A long-awaited and often debated development project in Clearfield Borough is making headway.
At Thursday’s Clearfield Borough Council meeting, Rob Swales, chief executive officer of Clearly Ahead Development, gave an update on the ongoing riverfront development project.
Swales said the project started about six or seven weeks ago and has been moving up-river from the Irwin’s Citco Station. Swales said many local contractors are involved in the project, including Hallstrom Construction, Roman Construction and Lanager’s Landscaping. Swales said Kronenwetter Electric was awarded the contract for the electrical work but has been working with local vendors.
Swales said he hasn’t heard any negative feedback about the work and he has been receiving daily updates about the project’s progress from the various contractors.
He said things seem to be going pretty smoothly, even though the river levels are about two feet higher than they normally are at this time of year. Swales said the crews have been taking extra precautions to ensure that the erosion and sedimentation controls are in compliance with the local, state and federal regulations.
Swales said the high water levels have made the part of the project near the Novey/Tool Shed property “a challenge,” but the crews have been doing the best they can.
He said the crews will be taking measures to secure the work-site during the Clearfield County Fair, and particularly the fair parade, to protect both the site and the safety of the residents and visitors.
Swales said questions and concerns are welcome at his office.
According to previous GantDaily articles, the borough received a $5 million Redevelopment Capital Assistance Grant for the river walk project and hired Clearly Ahead Development as developer for the project after dealings with a prior developer fell through.
The Novey family has donated a former scrap yard along Williams and West Pine streets, which Clearly Ahead Development is planning to convert into a public park as a part of its riverfront development project.
The river walk itself will be a one-mile loop on both sides of the river between the Market and Nichols Street bridges. The project includes the development of a hotel on the former Tool Shed property on the west side of the river and a restaurant/office building on the east side of the river along Water Street.
