Officials ceremonially broke ground on The Gateway construction on Friday.
A long empty lot soon will sprout new life as construction on affordable housing and commercial space is set to begin.
Wildheart Ministries on Friday celebrated the groundbreaking of their first development project, in which they plan to build nine apartment units and three commercial spaces on a lot at 1260-1270 Market St. in Allison Hill.
“Today, these empty lots become actual homes, spaces of safety, of dignity and true belonging for our neighbors,” said Christina Herman, managing director of Wildheart. “Because behind every housing statistic is a sacred story.”
The project site for “The Gateway” sits near the intersection of N. 13th and Market streets, in between Fox’s Wash and Go and Pizza Boli’s.
“The Gateway” rendering.
Wildheart received approval for the project from City Council in November 2024 and will now begin construction. They estimate a project completion in March 2027.
Apartments will be for sale and will include a mix of two- and three-bedrooms, with an ADA-accessible ground floor unit. Qualified applicants must be making between 30% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), as the units will support lower-income families.
“When families have a secure and affordable roof over their head, the impossible becomes possible—health improves, grades go up, stress levels go down and our entire community benefits,” said Edquina Washington, economic development director for Harrisburg.
Wildheart said they’ve received funding for the $3.3 million project from various sources. Recently, they were awarded a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). Last October, the project received $377,000 from Harrisburg’s Affordable Housing Development Fund. They’ve also received another $50,000 in 2025 Dauphin County gaming grant funds and $30,000 in 2024 gaming grants.
Wildheart has worked in Allison Hill for over a decade, focusing on trash cleanups in the neighborhood and managing the Hill Farm, which provides produce to the community and teaches students how to grow food.
“The Gateway” development also meets a need identified as part of the Blueprint Communities initiative in Allison Hill, of which Wildheart is a partner on. As a designated Blueprint Community, Allison Hill will be prioritized by the state for investment opportunities. According to Wildheart, housing was one of the top needs cited by residents during surveys.
“Our community is grappling with a critical housing emergency, and we have witnessed firsthand the devastating toll the housing crisis has taken on our neighbors,” Herman said. “This development is a vital, hard-fought solution, and we are absolutely thrilled to provide nine families with the life-changing opportunity of homeownership.”
For more information about Wildheart Ministries, visit their website.
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