SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 244, 2104 PRINTER'S NO. 3877
No. 218 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY REED, ARGALL, BELFANTI, BOYD, BUNT, CAPPELLI,
CORNELL, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, FABRIZIO, FICHTER, FREEMAN,
GEIST, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARHAI, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY,
HUTCHINSON, KIRKLAND, LEDERER, LEH, MANN, McCALL, McGILL,
O'NEILL, PETRARCA, PETRONE, PICKETT, REICHLEY, RUBLEY,
SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, STABACK, STERN, R. STEVENSON,
STURLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, WALKO, WASHINGTON, YOUNGBLOOD,
PAYNE AND SIPTROTH, FEBRUARY 8, 2005
SENATOR WENGER, APPROPRIATIONS, IN SENATE, RE-REPORTED AS
AMENDED, APRIL 18, 2006
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 22, 2000 (P.L.318, No.32), entitled "An
2 act encouraging State agencies to locate facilities in a
3 downtown area; and providing for report to General Assembly,"
4 further providing for definitions. and for powers and duties <--
5 of Department of General Services.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Sections 3 and 4(c) SECTION 3 of the act of June <--
9 22, 2000 (P.L.318, No.32), known as the Downtown Location Law,
10 are IS amended to read: <--
11 Section 3. Definitions.
12 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14 context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 "Department." The Department of General Services of the
1 Commonwealth.
2 "Downtown area." [Either of the following:
3 (1) The central business district of a city, other than
4 a city of the first class, borough, incorporated town or
5 township or any commercial area within a neighborhood of a
6 city, borough, incorporated town or township, in every case
7 that serves as a commercial center within that community of
8 this Commonwealth.
9 (2) In cities of the first class, the entire geographic
10 area of the city.]
11 A geographically identifiable and contiguous business district
12 within a town, city, village within a township, home rule
13 municipality or borough, with a recognized sense of place and a
14 distinct and identifiable pedestrian orientation based upon a
15 rectilinear street grid pattern of development, with one or more
16 central streets and intersecting cross streets. The business
17 district shall have historically served as the center of
18 economic, social and civic activity within the community since
19 at least 1939, or, in the case of a municipality with multiple
20 business districts, each business district shall have served as
21 the center of economic, social and civic activity within a
22 neighborhood.
23 "Pedestrian orientation." Development designed with an
24 emphasis on a street sidewalk and on pedestrian access to a site
25 and building rather than on automobile access and parking areas
26 where:
27 (1) The building is generally placed close to the street
28 and the main entrance is oriented to the street sidewalk.
29 (2) There are generally windows or display cases along
30 building facades that face the street.
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1 (3) The building covers a large portion of the
2 individual lot area.
3 (4) Although parking areas may be provided, they are
4 generally limited in size and are not emphasized by the
5 design of the site.
6 "Rectilinear street grid pattern." A street and block system
7 characterized by relatively regularly spaced, rectangular or
8 trapezoidal blocks and four-way intersections.
9 "Secretary." The Secretary of General Services of the
10 Commonwealth.
11 "Sense of place." The characteristics of a location that
12 make it readily recognizable as being unique and different from
13 its surroundings, including, but not limited to, publicly owned
14 squares, village commons, open space, gazebos, plazas,
15 courtyards and historic main streets.
16 "State agency." An executive agency or independent agency as
17 those terms are defined in 62 Pa.C.S. § 103 (relating to
18 definitions).
19 Section 4. Powers and duties. <--
20 * * *
21 (c) Construction.--Whenever a State agency is planning to
22 construct a building to be used for office purposes, the State
23 agency shall, in accordance with the department's guidelines:
24 (1) Consider the rehabilitation, reuse, or both, of
25 existing structures within a downtown area. Consideration may
26 include reasonable efforts to:
27 (i) Rehabilitate or rebuild the structure's facade,
28 if appropriate, in a way which maintains the
29 architectural integrity of the building and streetscape
30 according to the United States Secretary of the
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1 Interior's standards for rehabilitation in Federal
2 regulations.
3 (ii) Ensure that the structure meets the
4 requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
5 1990 (Public Law 101-336, 104 Stat. 327) in a manner
6 which respects the architectural integrity of the
7 building.
8 (2) Consider new construction on available land within a
9 downtown area. Consideration may include reasonable efforts
10 to:
11 (i) Have the scale and facade of the new structure
12 maintain the architectural integrity of the existing
13 streetscape.
14 (ii) Ensure that the structure meets the
15 requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of
16 1990 in a manner which respects the architectural
17 integrity of the neighboring building.
18 (3) Give priority of consideration to downtown areas
19 located in economically depressed municipalities.
20 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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