Come fall, a newly renovated building will open downtown, the third Harrisburg University residence hall to debut on a two-block stretch of Market Street.
Over the past couple of years, the university has made a habit of taking rundown, under-used buildings and transforming them into fully occupied residences. In the process, it has helped inject life and commerce into an area of downtown that, for many years, became desolate once the daily throng of commuters gathered their belongings and packed off to the suburbs.
Lloyd Fought, owner of the Downtown Deli & Eatery, which specializes in both breakfast and lunch, has cashed in on some of that economic activity. “Harrisburg University is 100 percent good for my business,” he said.
The university estimates that an average HU student spends $3,500 a year locally – just on food.
“Because Harrisburg University does not provide a meal plan, students are participating within the local food economy,” said Steve Infanti, HU’s assistant vice president of communications.
With 54 students living there, the new building at 319 Market St. will create a direct economic impact of $189,000 a year for local eateries, said Infanti. Together, HU’s three residence halls will house 238 students, bringing the university’s total economic impact on the downtown to $830,000 a year, he said.
Fought added that, besides feeding students, Downtown Deli caters outside events held at HU, located just down the block from his sandwich shop. In fact, he had little time to talk to this reporter because he was busy preparing for exactly that.
“Local groups and businesses can rent out space at Harrisburg University for events,” he said, rushing back to work. “They often call us to cater.”
Going Downtown
Originally known as the William Seel Building, 319 Market long has been a half-empty office building. Campaign offices and other temporary tenants have called the century-old brownstone home, but it had not been filled to capacity for years. The building was outdated and in desperate need of renovation when Brickbox Enterprises bought it last August from long-time owner, the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.
The Seel Building is the third historic building downtown that the company bought and renovated for HU. In 2010, Brickbox rehabbed the old Governor Hotel at 4th and Market streets and then, last year, the Kunkel Building just down the block at 3rd and Market. The latter building also houses a sprawling new Subway sandwich shop on the ground floor, which, since opening in April, has become another popular eatery and hangout for HU students.
Unlike most residential properties owned by nonprofit universities, all three buildings continue to generate tax revenue for the city.
“We don’t own our residential properties,” said HU President Eric Darr. “We partner with . . . Brickbox. Because Brickbox is a business, the property will remain on the tax rolls.”
Darr said that this arrangement has been perfect for HU, as the university has sorely needed to expand its housing. “Our student body continues to grow. We simply needed more beds to accommodate our growing student population.”
319 Market Street.
New Option
While this development project is certainly good for Harrisburg, it is also one of the university’s selling points. “These aren’t the cinderblock dorms that most students are used to,” said Darr. “Prospective students and parents touring our campus are always very impressed with the student housing that we offer.”
But, even with such housing options, HU wanted to address some specific needs among students.
“All of our first- and second-year students are required to live in student housing,” said Darr. “The two apartment complexes that we already use are designed with these students in mind. However, many of our juniors and seniors were moving off-campus. We wanted to make sure they had housing options designed for them.”
Because of the high ceilings on the first floor of 319 Market St., the university will offer loft-style apartments there. Additionally, all the upper-floor apartments will be singles designed with juniors and seniors in mind.
“The student leaders who run clubs and organize student life programs wanted to stay on-campus,” says Nayeem Islam, HU’s director of student housing. “This will provide them with housing designed for them. It will have a big, positive impact on student life. The current student body president is a perfect example. She was planning on moving off-campus, but now, with the opening of 319 Market St., she has chosen to stay on-campus so she can be close and present at student activities.”
Additionally, according to Islam, the new building will allow older students additional privileges.
“Students who have been at HU for two or three years have earned certain freedoms,” says Islam. “These are students who have shown that they can live responsibly. The rules concerning 319 Market St. will reflect that.”
With the addition of the new student apartments, the young Harrisburg University continues to expand its role in the city. For a city in Harrisburg’s financial situation, downtown residential development serves as a sign of hope. For a new institution of higher education, accommodating a growing student body is affirmation that the university is on the right track.
“As Harrisburg University grows, it is important that we seek ways to help the on-campus community thrive,” said Darr. “We think that this building project will do just that.”
