Are malls a dying breed?

Link to February 22 Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

Excerpt:
From shuttered storefronts to near-empty corridors, hard times have hit some of the region's largest shopping malls.

Once the pillars of local consumerism, malls from Frazer to Monroeville to West Mifflin are struggling with vacancies as the nation's deepening recession takes its toll on retailers and shopper confidence.

At Century III Mall, one wing of the sprawling West Mifflin complex is nearly empty because of an exodus of stores. By a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette count, more than 30 storefronts are empty.
In Frazer, the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills is coping with some 37 vacancies, as the huge ranch-style mall continues to struggle to find a niche since its opening in 2005.

And in the east suburbs, Monroeville Mall, where the 1978 cult classic "Dawn of the Dead" was filmed, finds itself amidst a real-life retail horror story, with roughly 20 empty storefronts by the newspaper's count.

More people flock to use library's free services during tighter times

Link to February 19 Great Falls Tribune article.

Excerpt: More individuals and families have used the Great Falls Public Library the last few months as economic conditions worsened, said Jim Heckel, library director.

Walk-in traffic increased more than 3 percent last year, to about 220,000 patrons, and was up 8 percent last month over the previous January, he said.

Attendance at library programs also increased about 5 percent last year, as did use of the library's public access computers. Use of the library's extensive database collections on the computers soared by more than 42 percent in 2008. Heckel said that's partly because the program, which varies from auto and small engine repair, to health, genealogical and environmental sites and access to Great Falls Tribune and magazine archives, was better promoted and because people whose work hours were cut have more time to use the databases.

10th Street bridge's place on city's stimulus-money wish list sparks debate

Link to February 13 Great Falls Tribune post.

Excerpt:
Sparks are flying once again over the 10th Street bridge, which recently was placed on a city of Great Falls wish list for federal stimulus dollars.

Some residents are riled up over the idea of spending $3 million in federal grants to finish renovating the historic structure, but bridge backers are excited by the possibility of a final restoration.

5th Ave. house is 22nd to be razed as blighted property

Link to February 12 Warren Times Observer article.

Excerpt:
The apartment building at 16 W. Fifth Ave. was torn down Wednesday after being declared a blighted property by the city two years ago.

"The entire left side of the building was severely deteriorated," said Alan Gustafson, Warren City building code official. "The roof had been leaking for several years resulting in a heavy amount of black mold in several of the apartments.