1909 N. Front St., the proposed site of an office-to-residential conversion.
Several new proposed projects would add around 150 apartment units to Harrisburg’s housing stock.
At a Harrisburg Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday, local developers presented proposals to repurpose former office buildings and a funeral home, as well as construct new housing.
Starting along the riverfront, Harrisburg-based WCI Partners proposed converting an office building at 1909 N. Front St. into 60 apartments. The building is currently occupied by Hersha Hospitality, but according to WCI, the company is downsizing and moving locations.
Under the proposal, WCI would create all one-bedroom units in the four-story, 58,832-square-foot building. There are also 71 off-street parking spaces.
The planning commission voted to recommend approval of the land development plan, as well as a special exception to allow a multifamily dwelling in the Riverfront zoning district.
333 Market Street, the site of a proposed office-to-residential conversion.
In downtown Harrisburg, Harristown Development Corp. has proposed another office-to-residential conversion at 333 Market Street.
The 22-story building is the tallest in Harrisburg, according to the city, and, for years, has housed state government offices and commercial spaces. Currently, apparel store DTLR occupies ground level space on Market Street and a WGAL News 8 studio has a space at the corner of N. 4th Street and Blackberry Street.
The proposal includes renovating floors 11 through 19 of the building, currently vacant offices, into 81 apartments. Units would be one- and two-bedrooms ranging from 828 to 1,225 square feet.
The project would not include off-street parking, but the building is attached to the Chestnut Street Garage.
Approval for the project was granted by the commission.
On a smaller scale, developer Breneman Properties has proposed adding apartments to the building at 1332 N. 2nd St. The building currently includes five apartments and previously housed Neumyer Funeral Home on the first floor. Breneman would convert the former funeral space into eight additional apartments.
The planning commission recommended approval of a variance to allow the existing parking lot to be used commercially and spaces rented out, and a special exception to allow for more units than permitted by right, for the project.
Lastly, Handles Helping Hand Foundation has proposed consolidating five parcels at 1605 to 1613 Market St. and subdividing the land into four lots. The developer would then construct a three-story affordable townhome on each lot.
The project site is currently owned by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority. A small community garden used to operate onsite, but the lot has since become blighted.
The planning commission recommended approval of the land development plan, lot consolidation and subdivision. They also recommended approval of a variance and special exception for relief from lot width and off-street parking requirements.
All of the zoning issues mentioned above will now move to the Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board for approval. The land development plans will head to City Council for final approval before the projects can start.
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