FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 24, 2011 

Six Central PA Projects Receive Commonwealth Awards for Sustainable Development 

Contact: Jack Machek, jmachek@10000friends.org, 717-234-6070 

Harrisburg - Six development projects in Central Pennsylvania that are revitalizing communities, spurring economic development, catalyzing private investment, and serving as models of sustainable development received Commonwealth Awards at 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania’s recent annual awards event. 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, the state’s leading Smart Growth advocacy organization, honored these six projects in the region, as well as 16 others from across the state, with it prestigious annual awards this year. 

The Commonwealth Awards is a juried statewide program honoring smart growth projects from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 10,000 Friends invited submissions from companies and organizations that produced a wide range of project types—urban infill, historic preservation and rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, Brownfield redevelopment, traditional neighborhood development, public infrastructure, farmland preservation, and revitalization plans. 

Smart Growth strategies build suburban, urban, and rural communities that have more transportation options; have more housing and recreational choices; are closer to job opportunities, shops, and schools; support the local economy; are more energy efficient and independent; and help protect green space, clean air, and clean water.

“The Commonwealth Awards honor outstanding examples of Smart Growth projects here in Pennsylvania,” said Jack Machek, President and CEO of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania.  “We received a record number of submissions this year, and it’s very encouraging to see so many smart growth projects succeeding as many sectors of the construction industry are struggling to rebound. 10,000 Friends is proud to showcase the companies and organizations working to build stronger towns and communities across the state.” 

The awardees include:

CODO 28 (York, Pa.) received a Gold Award in the Mixed-Use Development (Small Projects) category.  The 25,000 square foot, three-story, mixed-use development sits in the heart of the “Market District” – the area to be reinvigorated as the hospitality, retail, cultural and entertainment district in downtown York. Codo 28 has transformed a building that for 15 years was vacant and dilapidated at a high‐visibility location into a $4.6 million showpiece, adding to the tax base of the City of York. 

“This project creates a new product (market rate rental apartments in a town home style) in a great location,” the jury said. “It positions the city’s core to push back against explosive growth in once-rural south central Pa.” 

Mifflin Mills (Lebanon, Pa.) is received the Gold Award in the Housing and Community Institution Projects category. This affordable housing project is located on what was an abandoned lot and an eyesore within the neighborhood. By using the infill site to develop a townhouse project, the Housing Authority was able to enhance the character of the existing neighborhood while limiting costs and impact of the installation of new infrastructure.

“This project was built in partnership with PHFA to create a unique rent-to-own housing strategy where tenants can own their property with a deferred second mortgage if they stay, pay, and maintain property successfully. It’s a key reason the project was honored,” the jury said. “The model encourages tenants to become owners with incentive to reinvest in their properties and neighborhood, which should be lauded.” 

The City of Lancaster’s Green Infrastructure Plan received a Commonwealth Award in the Plans and Planning category. Currently the city’s combined sewer system is responsible for millions of gallons of polluted water that runs into the Conestoga River during storms every year. The city’s long-term plan had envisioned large storage tanks, deep underground tunnels, and grey infrastructure to manage stormwater. But the city looked into green infrastructure and realized the cost savings and overall benefits. The results were the city’s first-ever Green Infrastructure Plan.  Over 25 years, the project can reduce the average annual storm water runoff by over one billion gallons per year. 

“This is award-worthy because the plan provides a replicable and more cost effective means of dealing with a common and very expensive problem—storm water and sewer separation,” the jury said. 

Steinwehr Avenue Streetscape Revitalization (Gettysburg, Pa.) received a Commonwealth Award in the Public Infrastructure Projects category. When the National Park Service opened a new visitor center for the Gettysburg National Military Park a mile away from the old facility on Steinwehr Avenue, the city rallied to revive this vital piece of the Gettysburg economy. The multi-phase streetscape improvement project is part of a strategy to sustain and reinvest in existing infrastructure and development of the Steinwehr Avenue business district. 

The goal of the project being to transform the district into a walkable, safe destination that will increase the number of visitors to Steinwehr Avenue and boost the local economy. 

“It’s an impressive in that it was multi-faceted, including preserving the transportation system, traffic routing, pedestrian safety, and improved streetscape. The site can now be accessed by car, bicycle, bus, or on foot,” the jury said. “It’s admirable that shop owners formed an alliance and then a Business Improvement District (Steinwehr) to contribute to their own good.” 

Barnes & Noble at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pa.) received a Commonwealth Award in the Commercial Projects category. The originally proposal for this site would have demolished the 1942 store and replaced it with a new building. But the project’s developer, Radnor Property Group, along with the project’s architect, were able to convince Bucknell University representatives and the retailer that preservation of the existing building would be more economical, and a greener alternative to new construction. Barnes & Noble at Bucknell University is located in the heart of the traditional downtown business district, and within walking distance of the University. The project was able to capitalize on the existing transit and civil infrastructure, while simultaneously energizing stagnating retail areas by better linking them with the university community.

“This project was the best example this year of ‘Town and Gown’ redevelopment, linking the campus, students, university institutions, and an important commercial district,” the jury said. 

Logos Academy (York, Pa.) received a Commonwealth Award in the Housing and Community Institution Project category. Located in downtown York on an urban Brownfield site, the development is zoned for commercial waterfront to the east, and residential to the west. Logos Academy replaces a light manufacturing facility, which had been vacant for several years. The site is also home to a private, non-profit, faith-based school, including Kindergarten through 8th grade students. 

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is the leading advocate in Pennsylvania for responsible and efficient land use. Our vision is to have a positive impact on the built and natural environment through efficient land use. Founded in Southeastern Pennsylvania in 1998, 10,000 Friends has aligned and supported organizations and individuals from across the state committed to land use policies and actions that enable Pennsylvania to strengthen its diverse urban, suburban, and rural communities and reduce wasteful and inefficient land consumption. For more information visit: http://10000friends.org/