Proposed traffic changes, State College road closures: Top Centre County stories

State College leaders are weighing major downtown changes while preparing for a short-term road closure of part of one of the borough’s busiest streets. Below is a roundup of the top Centre County news from June 4.

• The State College Borough Council is reviewing a proposal that would convert portions of four downtown streets to one-way traffic, adding 32 parking spaces and five loading zones. The one-year pilot covers parts of Locust Lane, Hiester Street, Sowers Street and Hetzel Street, with a final vote scheduled for June 15. The one-way street proposal was developed to address unsafe and illegal parking from increased east-end development, but officials warned it could increase traffic delays and wrong-way bicycle traffic. The changes would require mainly paint and signs to implement.
• West Beaver Avenue between Atherton and Burrowes streets will close June 8-10 to stage a tower crane for the nine-story Nittany Residences Club. A three-mile detour will reroute traffic via Atherton Street, Park Avenue and University Drive. The Nittany Residence Club, a luxury hybrid condominium-hotel at 321 W. Beaver Ave., will feature 70 units priced up to $2.2 million, with more than 40% already accounted for. The building is expected to reach completion by the end of 2027.
• The State College Spikes return Friday to Medlar Field at Lubrano Park for their 20th anniversary home opener amid an unresolved lease dispute with Penn State. The university is seeking about $1.7 million in termination rent and alleges the Spikes missed a deadline to extend their lease. Attorneys for the Spikes and Penn State are scheduled to appear Aug. 5 before a retired federal judge for mediation, after the meeting was pushed back from June 16. The 2026 season is expected to play out as planned despite uncertainty beyond that.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.