Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

The Menaker apartment building celebrates completion of renovation, historic preservation

Harristown Enterprises, local officials and community members cut the ribbon on The Menaker apartment building in Market Square.

Developers cut the ribbon on Wednesday on an apartment building with a rich history in Harrisburg.

The Menaker in downtown is officially complete with 28 apartment units and a first-floor retail space. The historic building in Market Square was completely renovated and restored over the course of this past year.

“This project took a lot of vision, a lot of creativity and determination,” said Julien Gaudion, vice president of Harristown Enterprises, the developer of the project.

Developers completely gutted the six-story, 33,809-square-foot building and renovated it, opting for an art deco style.

The building was originally constructed in 1906, built for the Johnston Paper Co., a Harrisburg-based paper products manufacturer. According to David Morrison of the Historic Harrisburg Association, President Theodore Roosevelt visited the building after it was constructed. The building was originally only four floors, but two more stories were added in 1912. Later, the building housed Beckley College and, most recently, Skarlatos Zonarich, a law firm, which moved its offices to Strawberry Square.

The Menaker was named after Mortimer Menaker, former chairman of the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, who oversaw a previous renovation in 1977.

“We have to credit Harristown for ushering in the 21st century with a wave of historic preservation projects in downtown Harrisburg, of which this is just the latest example,” Morrison said.

The Menaker offers both one- and two-bedroom apartment units. There is also a 2,000-square-foot retail space on the first floor, and according to Harristown President Brad Jones, they have a prospective tenant.

Camp Hill-based ByDesign Consultants was the architect for the project and Mechanicsburg-based Mowery Construction was the general contractor.

“We need more housing units,” said Ryan Unger, Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce and CREDC CEO. “We are appreciative and excited.”

The Menaker Apartments is located at 17 S. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For leasing information, visit www.hbgrealty.net.

 

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