About a year ago, Castle Shannon Councilwoman Nancy Kovach described the borough's four-block central business district as "blighted."

"I thought it was overstated, but after a walk-through of the area, I agreed with her," Councilman Mike Warhold said of the area from Library Road to the Iceoplex on Castle Shannon Boulevard, where roughly 65 percent of interior space is vacant.

Mr. Warhold consulted Donn Henderson, who manages the Main Street revitalization program in Irwin.

Among Mr. Henderson's suggestions was forming a nonprofit corporation.

So on May 13, the newly formed Castle Shannon Revitalization Corp. met with downtown merchants to discuss ways, as Mr. Warhold said, "to save the downtown area."

Castle Shannon's decline over the past five years is reflected in the loss of businesses such as Moses Quality Market; Peppercorns Restaurant, which later became Paradise Cafe and then closed; Mark's Willow Inn; and Shannon Bar & Hotel.

Today, the downtown area consists of about 45 businesses, most of which Mr. Warhold described as "destination" sites, such as Laughlin Memorial Chapel, Lawrence Music, Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh and Drum World Music Center.

"What we also need are businesses that parents who drop off their kids for one-hour lessons will want to shop in," he said.

As a first step, "Welcome to Castle Shannon" signs have been erected, and the parking meters that often are monopolized for eight hours a day by overflow traffic from the nearby Castle Shannon Boulevard transit station will be replaced by shopper-friendly, two-hour parking zones.

That T-station also is the area's biggest asset, Mr. Henderson said.

"The challenge is how to tie the people getting on and off with the businesses," he said.

Mr. Warhold said trolley passengers park 1,100 cars daily by 9 a.m. at three parking lots in Castle Shannon: Memorial Hall on Library Road; Rockwood Street; and at the Port Authority lot at the T-station.

About 1,300 passengers exit the trolley between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., and getting them to stop and shop is a prime goal of the revitalization, Mr. Warhold said.

The T-station would become an even bigger asset if a $30 million transit-oriented development, first proposed in 1996 by developer Jim Aiello, of JRA Development, becomes a reality at the site.

"It would look like a small village," he said of the proposed 10-story building containing 96 apartments; a two-story building of offices and retail; and a two-story restaurant building. A courtyard would connect the three buildings.

All of them would be built on a deck over the existing parking lot.

"If you work in town, this would be a great place to live as you never have to use your car," said Mr. Aiello, of Mt. Lebanon.

He has secured $4 million in state funding commitments, with more expected through tax-increment financing. He is seeking more than $20 million in private commitments.

In the meantime, the borough is filing an application for the county's Allegheny Together, a small-business revitalization program that provides technical assistance, complementary services, grant/loan information and more.

It also plans to apply for Main Street funding to develop a business plan.

"Our best advice at this point is to continue in this direction," said Rick Viglione, Western Pennsylvania coordinator for the nonprofit Pennsylvania Downtown Center, which assists communities with revitalization through education and training.

"Our communities did not get this way overnight. It will take time to improve the physical appearance and to recruit targeted businesses. It will take a lot of volunteers, and a total commitment of the neighborhood," he said.