Community Revitalization

Neighborhood Revitalization

UNC works with residents and other partners to revitalize neighborhoods through projects that include renovating old buildings into new housing and commercial space; creating or supporting community groups that address community image, commerce, and safety; assisting businesses through façade grants and marketing assistance, and hosting of social/cultural events to build community pride.

Pine Brook Neighborhood Revitalization – A designated Elm Street Community

UNC is committed to improving the neighborhood of Pine Brook through physical, social, and economic improvements which include community building, public improvement projects, green space and park enhancements, business support, and catalyzing commercial redevelopment and affordable housing.

In April 2022, UNC’s Pine Brook Neighborhood became a Designated Elm Street Community through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development and Pennsylvania Downtown Center.

Contact Holly Yorkonis, Pine Brook Elm Street Manager to learn more about the Pine Brook project at hyorkonis@uncnepa.org or 272-228-1366.

See our 5- year Community Revitalization Plan HERE.

Neighborhood Vision: Pine Brook is a welcoming neighborhood of diverse and friendly residents, thriving businesses, and a strong local identity showcased through a vibrant public realm, walkable streets, and engaged new businesses and anchor institutions.

Together we work to:

Make Pine Brook Visible; encouraging people to stop, linger and discover Pine Brook.
Create Common Ground; bringing together the incredible land uses and diversity of residents and businesses.
Carry History + DIY Spirit Forward; leveraging the stories, the heritage, the traditions of this “walk to work” community to attract new residents and businesses.

We welcome Pine Brook residents, local businesses, those who work in the community to join one of our Pine Brook Neighborhood Revitalization Committees today.

Safe, Clean & Green

This committee is taking action to create a safe, clean, and green Pine Brook neighborhood. Community clean ups, completing small community enhancement projects, and working to reduce blight and improve street safety are the first steps in changing a community for the better.

Image & Identity

This committee is working to foster community pride and build a positive perception from within and outside the neighborhood through community events and promotion of the many exciting things developing in Pine Brook. We partner with the local elementary school and other community partners to create an annual Pine Brook Family Arts Fest to build community pride, engage with young families, and start to change the image of the neighborhood.

Neighbors & Economy

This committee works to develop the economic relationship between residents and businesses in their neighborhood. A small business alliance has been formed to promote and assist businesses, as well as recruit needed businesses to the neighborhood. This committee will also work to form an active resident’s association to advocate for the neighborhood and foster a community culture of inclusion.

Design Committee

This committee oversees the Business and Residential façade grant program, lighting program and other design initiatives will be a catalyst for private investment in homes and commercial buildings.

JOIN A COMMITTEE

Volunteer for an event or clean up (click here) Our goal in 2023 is 1,000 volunteer hours. Help us get there! Subscribe to our Pine Brook Neighborhood newsletter. Pine Brook Revitalization Project

Contact Holly Yorkonis, Pine Brook Elm Street Manager to learn more about the Pine Brook project, as well as the following programs and events:

Annual Pine Brook Family Arts Festival

Our Family Arts Festival celebrates many art forms including painting, performance art, and interactive art. We also include educational, environmental, and nutrition topics at the festival! Join us for this free and open-to-public event that takes place each year on the last weekend of April.

Annual Pine Brook Neighborhood Cleanup

Cleaning our neighborhood makes an impact on the environment, it also brings people together to make a difference in the community. By removing litter and cleaning up blight we are protecting our soil and water resources. This event takes place each April as we celebrate Earth Day.

Pine Brook Safety & Wellness Fairs

At these seasonal popups, we strive to provide services to residents directly in the community. We partner with service organizations to provide, Narcan kits, food bags, utility assistance, clothes, vaccines, and wellness checks.

Capouse Corner Green Space – 1371 Capouse Avenue (created in partnership with Leadership Lackawanna Class of 2023)

This corner park was created to reduce blight. With our partners, we were able to create a public green space for residents to enjoy. With the addition of a garden bed, we are able to host educational workshops for all learning levels. On your visit be sure to stop at the Little Free Library for a new book.

Visit our Facebook page.

South Side Revitalization/ Cedar Iron District

Visit our Facebook page.

UNC Farmers Markets

UNC administers two year-round farmers markets.

United Neighborhood Center’s (UNC) Farmers Markets. We host two weekly, year-long farmers in South Side Scranton and Carbondale. Both markets accept SNAP/EBT and have support from the Food Bucks program.

To get involved with UNC Farmers Markets, contact Holly at hyorkonis@uncnepa.org or 272-228-1366.

South Side Farmers Market

Saturdays from 10am – 1pm at 526 Cedar Avenue at the corner of Alder Street (outdoor location) and 509 Cedar Avenue (indoor winter location (mid Oct- mid May)

As part of our work to revitalize the South Scranton neighborhood, and to address a lack of local access to fresh, affordable food, UNC created the South Side Farmers Market in 2010. Since that time, the market has expanded to a year-round indoor/outdoor market that draws hundreds of people on a Saturday. The Market offers locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as eggs, meat, and baked goods.

Carbondale Farmer Market

Thursdays from 3pm – 7pm at 185 Fallbrook Street in Carbondale (year-round location)

UNC’s Carbondale Farmers Market is located at UNC’s Fallbrook Apartments & Healthy Aging Campus. The market offers locally grown fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, baked goods and booths featuring the works of local artisans.

Both of our farmers markets accept SNAP Benefits and participate in the Food Trust Food Bucks program. Spend $4 in SNAP/EBT benefits and receive and additional $2 in Food Bucks for fresh produce, with no weekly limit.

For more information on the UNC Farmers Market, contact Holly at hyorkonis@uncnepa.org or 272-228-1366.

Welcoming Scranton – Welcoming Scranton is an annual event taking place each year on during Welcoming America’s Welcoming Week. This year’s event is on takes place on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 10am – 2pm at 526 Cedar Avenue at the corner of Alder Street.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Small Business Façade Improvement Grant Program

The City of Scranton is seeking applications for Façade Improvement funding for disproportionately impacted small businesses. The city is partnering with local non-profits; Scranton Tomorrow, NeighborWorks and United Neighborhood Centers of NEPA to administer this program. United Neighborhood Centers will oversee improvements in South Scranton, Minooka, and Pine Brook sections. Funding may be applied for and used to improve storefronts and facades including major maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, preservation, and restoration and other improvements. The City’s ARPA mission is to provide an incentive for private investment in exterior property improvements to small business commercial buildings located within the city limits. Awards are available up to $10,000 with a 25% match required by applicants. In instances where multiple eligible small business owners share the same façade, it is encouraged that small business owners submit a joint application for upgrades to the shared façade. Joint applications that involve upgrades to the same façade, but different small business storefronts will be eligible for an award up to 20,000, with the same 25% match required by the pooled group of applicants.

For more information on who is eligible, please see the Notice of Funding and Grant Program Guidelines.
Click here to download an application.

Completed applications for businesses in South Scranton, Minooka, and Pine Brook sections should be mailed to: Chrissy Manuel, Director of UNC Community Revitalization at cmanuel@uncnepa.org.

City Wide Community Revitalization Efforts

Neighborhood Leader’s Forum – a quarterly gathering of neighborhood leaders from across the City of Scranton for training, networking, and leadership education. For more information email cmanuel@uncnepa.org.

Scranton City Pride – In 2023, UNC became a partner with Scranton Tomorrow and Neighborworks NEPA on this annual event. Find out more here.

Scranton’s Garbage Olympics (part of Scranton City Pride) https://www.garbageolympics.org/home