Demolition Derby in the Haven

LOCK HAVEN – Going down! Monday is seeing the start of two demolition projects in Lock Haven, both leading to future development.

These include the five townhouses along Spring Street, being torn down by Steinbacher Enterprises to make way for a new Geisinger Medical Center clinic at the site. Geisinger bought the property in 2018; it was once the location for the Lock Haven High School football practice field. Geisinger has not yet announced a timeline for construction of its proposed 30,000 square-foot building. The Danville-based health care organization had earlier announced the clinic would provide office space for nine doctors and 75 employees.

Demolition is also underway for the old Town Tavern site and adjacent Kenney building from 47 to 53 Bellefonte Avenue. Masters Excavating of Lock Haven is the contractor for the work. A company spokesman said the effort should take about three weeks to complete.

The City of Lock Haven bought the Town Tavern in September from previous owner David Mayes at a cost of $10,000 plus taxes and transaction fees.

The city now owns outright all the land from 37 to 53 Bellefonte Avenue, the plot from 37-41 Bellefonte Avenue the former Heilig-Meyers furniture store location. City manager Greg Wilson said inquiries have been received relative to the city holdings for sale and future commercial development.

Later this year, Wilson told therecord-online, the city will be offering for sale the city garage site, two acres at 2 E.Walnut Street. He said the city should be out of the garage site by early summer, with plans to sell the site at public auction. The city is locating those operations to its new garage site, the former PennDOT maintenance building in the city’s hill district.