A pool and gymnasium would be razed to create retail outlet space.
The Pickelner Arena would be expanded and redeveloped as a civic arena with ice.
The original YMCA building at West Fourth and Elmira streets would be redeveloped as a conference center or residential space.
For good measure, a town square with green space and bump-up parking would be assembled on the rest of the block whose boundaries are West Fourth, Elmira, West Third and Hepburn streets.
That's a lot of ambition contained in what Williamsport Mayor Gabriel J. Campana calls Destination 2014.
And there's no criticizing ambition and energy, as long as it is accompanied by reason and practicality.
An indoor ice arena makes sense, as long as it's easier to redevelop Pickelner Arena than to demolish the area and build the arena.
We love the foot traffic a conference center can bring, but does it make sense when another one is being built in Loyalsock Township or would the space be better used to bolster residential housing stock, a crying need in the city?
Retail outlet space in place of a gym and pool that are being relocated to the new YMCA adjacent to Williamsport Hospital is an exciting thought, as long as there are retailers to fill the space.
The ideas are fine, as long as there are private developers ready to make them happen.
This can't become a city government investment, either. In a city that can barely afford a police and fire department and is facing long-term pension problems, there isn't money available for real estate development. Leave that to the private interests.
At the very least, these ideas need to be fully discussed by City Council. Having a consultant review them with council Oct. 4 is a good start.
