Easton, Pa. — A new citizen-led nonprofit has officially launched in the city, bringing together residents and community advocates concerned about rapid downtown development, preservation standards and public access to planning decisions.
Preservation Easton is focused on strengthening historic preservation efforts while encouraging development that better reflects the city’s existing architectural character and historic district framework, the group said in a news release last week.
It held its first official meeting Tuesday, positioning itself as a bridge between preservation priorities and economic development goals, with an emphasis on zoning clarity, transparency in approvals and earlier public engagement in planning decisions.
Rapid growth and concerns over process
Vanessa Ungvarsky, a community advocate and spokesperson for Preservation Easton, said the effort emerged out of sustained neighborhood organizing and concern over how quickly the city’s downtown has changed in recent years…