New Development on the Way in Lock Haven
LOCK HAVEN – Based on actions and information at the City Council meeting earlier this week, two major developments are in the offing for Lock Haven, a continuation of a recent run of events to improve the city’s economic base.
The proposed developments announced on Monday are at 2 E. Walnut Street, the former city garage site, and 37-55 Bellefonte Avenue, a vacant plot formerly the home to the Heilig-Meyers furniture store and longtime city fixture, the Town Tavern. While the improvements are likely a couple years off until completion, they continue a recent commercial base growth trend, including the Lucky 7 Travel Plaza well underway along E. Walnut Street and the Geisinger Medical Center at Spring and Fourth streets where construction is expected to begin in the near future.
City council on Monday took the next steps necessary to bring the two newest proposals to fruition. Council voted to have sales agreements developed to turn over the Walnut Street and Bellefonte Avenue sites to the city Redevelopment Authority.
As a result of the requests for proposals issued by the Redevelopment Authority, a developer for each of the two sites came forward. As explained by city manager Greg Wilson, once the redevelopment authority is the owner of 2 E. Walnut Street, it intends to enter into a sales agreement for the 2-acre property in the amount of $200,000 with Vasas Inc. which submitted a proposal to build restaurant on the site. The proposal calls for a 3-year timeline for development including design, permitting and breaking ground once the property is sold to Vasas Inc. Vasas is the same company constructing the Lucky 7 building a block eastward on E. Walnut Street.
For 37-55 Bellefonte Avenue, the redevelopment authority received a preliminary proposal from co-developers Davis & Davis Real Estate LLC and Yoder Development Group Inc. The preliminary proposal is for the construction of a 3-story structure with commercial space on the first floor and residential on the second and third floors. Wilson said the redevelopment authority is continuing to work with the developer to refine the proposal for both price and site plan development. He said it is the intention of the redevelopment authority to eventually enter into an agreement for sale with the co-developer for a suitable price and feasible development to add value to, what he termed, “the commercial core of the city.”
Wilson said he doesn’t believe anything similar to the Bellefonte Avenue plan has been proposed since the Opera House project on E. Main Street.
The city manager ticked off the recent run of development in the greater Lock Haven area: “With Lucky 7 Travel Plaza, the expansion of First Quality, Geisinger’s new facility, and now two more development projects in the works, it certainly points to tangible efforts being taken to ensure that Lock Haven is constantly moving forward toward a positive future.”
Wilson said the city’s administrative staff has been working on these projects and is still working with other developers to “ensure that city council’s and the redevelopment authority’s goals of constantly striving to provide a more diverse economic base while improving the quality of life for our residents are being met.”
