MAYFAIR – Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-5) visited the Mayfair Business Improvement District to review how local partnerships successfully breathed new life into the area. Argall and Picozzi serve as the chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Majority Policy Committee and are currently planning public hearings in Northeast Philadelphia about issues confronting residents. Picozzi also serves as the chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.
“I’m grateful that Senator Argall was able to join me in Mayfair this week and to Donny Smith for all he does for the neighborhood,” said Picozzi. “Mayfair is a cornerstone of the Great Northeast, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to fight for it. Senator Argall has done some awesome work in his community, and it’s great to learn from his experiences as we continue to make our home a better place to live and work.”
“In small towns like Shenandoah in Schuylkill County or massive cities like Philadelphia, community revitalization efforts are contagious,” said Argall. “Strong public private partnerships have made significant progress in Mayfair during the past decade. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about their successful efforts – I now have some new ideas to share with local leaders in northeast Pennsylvania.”
Donny Smith, the executive director of the Mayfair Business Improvement District, led Argall and Picozzi on a tour of “the Ave.” They focused heavily on a partnership that has drawn visitors from the Tri-State area to visit Mayfair – the Seward Johnson statues. Nine life-sized sculptures are strategically placed along the business corridor within a walkable distance. The statues encourage people to explore the more than 300 employers in the area, many of which are family-owned.
Smith also discussed efforts to beautify the corridor by installing new tree pits, fencing, and mulch, as well as how they’re actively working clean up illegally dumped trash and graffiti with support from the mayor’s administration.
The Senate Majority Policy Committee will soon hold additional hearings throughout Pennsylvania reviewing housing shortages, crime, and the rising cost of living in urban and rural areas.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger (Argall)
Sean Roche (Picozzi)