Carlisle Urban Redevelopment Plan Overview
Carlisle Borough, with nearly 4% growth over the past 10 years bucked the statewide trend of disinvestment from core communities, as population and economic growth sprawls to surrounding suburbs. The Borough’s abundance of housing opportunities, diverse economy, and high quality-of-life has fueled recent growth. These positive trends have been tempered; however, with the closing of several of Carlisle’s long-time resident industries over the past four years, including:
2008 – International Automotive Components Group (IAC), a manufacturer of flooring and acoustics products to the automotive industry closed its plant in Carlisle, leaving 152 employees jobless. The plant first opened in 1919.
2009 – Tyco, a manufacturer of electronic components and connections for the computer and communications industries, closed its doors at its plant on Hamilton Street in Carlisle, leaving 117 unemployed.
2010 – Carlisle Tire and Wheel (CTW) relocated its operation to Jackson, TN and in turn left 340 employees jobless. CTW, a manufacturer and importer of agriculture, ATV, golf, aviation, trailer, and lawn and garden tires opened in Carlisle in 1917.
These manufacturing operations were all located in close proximity to one another in the urbanized northern part of Carlisle Borough. While their closings have created short term hardship, the nearly 50 acres of vacant property left in their wake, creates a substantial urban redevelopment opportunity for the future.
Since their respective closings, private sector interests have purchased and expressed redevelopment interest. All indicators show that reusing the sites for industrial purposes is not feasible or attractive. While limited interest has been shown in the Tyco site to date, real estate agents for the site indicate that industrial reuse of that site is also unlikely. The private sector owners of these sites have indicated a willingness to consider the creation of walkable, mixed-use infill redevelopment concepts that includes residential, commercial, and possibly light industrial uses.
In order to promote redevelopment activities that are context sensitive, mesh well and do not conflict with the fabric of the surrounding neighborhoods the Borough is undertaking the preparation of an Urban Redevelopment Plan for the area. The plan will integrate land use, transportation, and economic development planning to create a comprehensive urban redevelopment strategy for the northern part of the Borough and is anticipated to be completed by June 2013. The Borough received state and federal grant funds along with local matching funds to undertake the planning process.
An extensive multi-day planning workshop is scheduled from March 11th through March 14th. A detailed schedule of events will be posted soon.
Please check back to this website regularly for updates to the schedule of events and as draft plan elements are completed.