Phase 1 College Avenue Development
The development at 213 College Avenue is Phase 1 of a larger plan to redevelop the former UPMC/St. Joseph’s hospital site into a mixed-use site. We have been working diligently on this development over the last 24 months and are hopeful to break ground as soon as possible. This development is meeting the need for affordable housing in Lancaster and aligns with the priorities defined in the Lancaster County Places 2040 plan, the Lancaster City Alliance Building on Strength, and the City of Lancaster Interim Housing Strategy.
Phase 2 will focus on the adaptive reuse of the Delp Wing of the St. Joseph’s Hospital main campus, in partnership with Milagro House, and new construction affordable apartments at 838 Marietta Ave.
The property at Wheatland Avenue has been transferred to Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity to develop affordable homeownership opportunities.
Click here to see the overall basement and first floor progress plans of the proposed building. Please note, these are subject to change.
See below for a timeline of past public and neighborhood meetings, copies of PowerPoint presentations, and links to press coverage. Check back here regularly for updates. Please send all emails to khartman@hdcweb.org.
Timeline – Past Public Meetings, Neighborhood Meetings, Press Coverage
- July 24, 2020 – LNP article, “Developers of former St. Joseph Hospital propose over 275 housing units, offices, shops”
- July 25, 2020 – LNP article, “Plan for housing, offices, shops at former St. Joseph Hospital gets mostly favorable reception”
- July 28, 2020 – LNP article, “Development of former St. Joseph’s Hospital site in Lancaster holds promise [editorial]”
- August 6, 2020 – Virtual Neighborhood Meeting – overall mixed use, mixed concept presented – View PowerPoint Presentation here
- August 13, 2020 – Meeting with Wheatland neighbors
- August 20, 2020 – Lancaster West Jewels Neighborhood Meeting
- September 9, 2020 – LNP article, “Focus of former St. Joseph Hospital site shifts to planned $90M project after city OKs rezoning request”
- December 8, 2020 – Virtual Neighborhood Meeting – 64 units introduced – View PowerPoint Presentation here
- December 9, 2020 – LNP article, “Steinman Foundation pledges $1.5 million toward 64 affordable apartments on College Avenue”
- July 10, 2021 – LNP article, “1,200 apartments proposed in Lancaster city since mid 2019”
- July 19, 2021 – Virtual Neighborhood Meeting – View PowerPoint Presentation here
- July 22, 2021 – LNP article, “Developers update plan for former St. Joe’s, Lancaster Regional hospital site; here’s what’s changed”
- October 16, 2021 – LNP article, “State awards Lancaster nonprofit developers affordable housing money”
- October 18, 2021 – Affordable Housing Finance article, “Pennsylvania Announces Funding Awards”
- October 18, 2021 – Central Penn Business Journal article, “PHFA awarded $1.25 million for Apartments at College Avenue, Lancaster”
- January 20, 2022 – Virtual Neighborhood Meeting – View PowerPoint Presentation here
- January 24, 2022 – Lancaster City Zoning Board Hearing
- January 25, 2022 – One United Lancaster article, “Zoning Board OKs Variances for HDC’s College Avenue Housing Complex”
- February 2, 2022 – Planning Commission
- February 16, 2022 – Dana Hanchin, CEO & President, & John Haney and Bruce Martin meeting
- February 22, 2022 – Historical Commission
- February 23, 2022 – LNP article, “$35 million Hager building project gets key nod to demolish historic buildings”
- February 23, 2022 – One United Lancaster article, “College Ave. Housing Project Doesn’t Raise Red Flags for Historical Commission”
- March 8, 2022 – The Daily Record article, “Baltimore developer purchases former Pa. Hospital”
- April 20, 2022 – Planning Commission – View Submitted Documents here
- April 25, 2022 – LNP article, “Fight against Lancaster city’s first new affordable housing construction since the ’70s has echoes of the past”
- April 27, 2022 – LNP editorial, “Proposed Lancaster apartment building is not a ‘monstrosity’ for ‘those people.’ It’s a needed affordable housing development [editorial]”
- May 3, 2022 – WGAL segment on Delp Wing renovation and partnership with Milagro House
- May 3, 2022 – PennLive article, “Former hospital site to be redeveloped into housing”
- May 16, 2022 – Historical Commission – View Submitted Documents here
- June 15, 2022 – LNP article, “Lancaster City Council gives key approval to College Ave affordable housing development, more needed”
- July 19, 2022 – Shade Tree Commission
- September 20, 2022 – Shade Tree Commission
- September 21, 2022 – Planning Commission
- September 22, 2022 – LNP article, “Lancaster city Planning Commission approves College Ave. affordable housing development”
- November 1, 2022 – Central Penn Business Journal article, “Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing on part of former hospital site”
- November 1, 2022 – One United Lancaster article, “Habitat for Humanity to take over Wheatland Ave. Development site from HDC”
- December 20, 2022 – LNP article, “Lancaster County commissioners differ on strategy for giving ARPA dollars to affordable housing”
- December 21, 2022 – One United Lancaster article, “Commissioners consider ARPA for affordable housing”
- December 28, 2022 – One United Lancaster article, “Commissioners approve $5 million in ARPA for affordable housing”
- January 22, 2023 – LNP article, “Apartment projects to address housing needs in city, suburbs, but rising costs create construction obstacles”
- March 10, 2023 – LNP article, “Lawsuit complicates funding for College Avenue affordable apartments”
- March 14, 2023 – One United Lancaster article, “Judge tosses appeal of zoning changes at Apartments at College Avenue”
- March 15, 2023 – LNP article, “Judge rules for developer in suit over College Avenue affordable housing”
- April 7, 2023 – LNP article, “HDC MidAtlantic wants potential losses covered in College Avenue affordable housing suit”
- May 18, 2023 – LNP article, “Settlement clears way for College Avenue affordable housing”
Have questions? Email Kate Hartman, Assistant Director of Communications, at khartman@hdcweb.org.
Every voice matters. At HDC, we are committed to raising up resident voices and opening doors so that residents can actively participate in the democratic process, speak out on issues important to them and their communities, and communicate how policies affect their everyday lives. We believe it is important to make the time and space to listen, and to support resident leaders in effectively using their voices. We support resident advocacy opportunities through our Resident Academy of Leadership & Inspiration, Voter Registration Drives, and holding constituent meetings and tours with elected officials.
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Finding a place to live that meets one’s basic needs and budget can feel like a never-ending challenge. The complexity of lower-income families and individuals extend far beyond simply finding a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. At HDC, we are committed to being an ally in speaking to issues, programs, and policies that improve quality of life of our residents. Issues that we know are important to our residents include:
We know we can’t solve the affordable housing challenge alone. We need champions to help change the conversation around what home means and why it matters. We are committed to educating elected officials to understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. We are here to provide solutions that work and offer affordable housing expertise that demonstrates the impact policy decisions have on lower-income families, seniors and those with disabilities. We work closely with and participate in alliances and coalitions to educate and advance shared policy priorities. Our advocacy partners include:
Wendy Smith serves as the Vice President of Property Management, responsible for the overall strategic direction for HDC’s management portfolio and the organization’s largest staff team. Previously, Wendy served as Asset and Operations Manager for a leading real estate firm based in New York City which owned over 11,000 affordable homes. Since 2008, Wendy has held roles in regional level operations for commercial and for-profit housing agencies. Wendy holds a degree in International Studies.
