Michael Sauers

October 3, 2025

Bloomsburg already has some key assets that are helpful for developing a vibrant and successful downtown. To begin, the Town of Bloomsburg has three exits off a busy interstate highway. While none of these channel traffic directly into the downtown they are all close. Secondly, Bloomsburg has a University adjacent to the downtown and it is a county seat with a Court House and county offices. Additionally, a state highway runs through the downtown. It has an airport and a beautiful town park immediately adjacent to the Susquehanna River. Throw in a post office, library, community theater, historical society, bookstore, art shops, restaurants and you have a good start. County employees, college students, faculty and neighborhood residents have spending power.

Great! What’s missing? Let’s start with affordable housing for 55 year olds and up. They have spending power but there is a need for affordable housing and a wider variety of small businesses. Businesses that can be walked to or jitneyed to. For example, a dry cleaner, drug store, grocery store with fresh produce, movie theater, floral shop, clothing store, bakery, emergency care, etc.

I’m a perfect example. It is inconvenient for me to walk downtown from where I live. So, I drive. Parking is rarely a problem. I would consider living in the downtown if I could access more businesses and affordable housing.

Easier said than done but definitely worth brainstorming. Private developers want incentives (welfare) such as tax breaks, zoning breaks, expedited permitting, low interest loans/grants, etc. Some of that may be appropriate but unnecessary. This is where the Columbia County Housing Authority needs to step in. There are some vacant lots, dilapidated buildings and affordable properties that could be considered. Maybe they have a plan for this, I don’t know.

There is spending power out there but you must entice it into an affordable, walkable, safe downtown.