Making Downtown Better
Everyday Since 1974

Making Downtown Better
Everyday Since 1974

About Harristown

Revitalizing Harrisburg for Over 50 Years

Since 1974, Harristown Development Corporation has been at the heart of downtown Harrisburg’s transformation. As a non-profit focused on real estate development, our mission is to breathe new life into the city, creating a vibrant community where people can live, work, and play.

Latest News

Making Harrisburg a better place to live, work and play

SoMa Retail Partners Plan Move & Expansion

Strawberry Square Development Corporation announced today that the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, powered by Harrisburg University, will be opening a new location in the coming months in the former 4,000 s.f. Hallmark store location on the first floor of Strawberry Square.

Read More »

Through The Years

Harristown’s restoration of downtown Harrisburg is changing the way people view and use the city.

Harristown has been a catalyst for Harrisburg’s remarkable transformation since its establishment. It has been involved with redevelopment projects worth over $500 million, contributing to the city’s economic and cultural renaissance. With a commitment to community development, Harristown has also contributed over $230 million in real estate taxes and currently oversees more than 2.5 million square feet of property. Harristown is truly shaping the heart of downtown into a thriving hub for all to enjoy!
2024

The Clockbox

A new, unique, open-air conference and meeting room on the second floor of Strawberry Square replaces the former Chock-o-Block Clock, which was removed after entertaining visitors for more than 33 years. In addition, the first-floor stage is being expanded and enhanced with new electronics to allow for a wider variety of events.
2022

The Plum

Formerly the region’s flagship women’s fashion boutique for more than 50 years, The Plum building was purchased by Harristown Enterprises and its partner, Don Mowery, in 2021, and subsequently rehabilitated
into three residential units.

The Plum was awarded
Historic Harrisburg Association’s Preservation Award in 2022.

2022

Menaker Building & Apartments

In 1974, Harristown oversaw the restoration of this historic six-floor office building.

Harristown and its investor partner later purchased this building in 2017, transforming it into 28 one and two-bedroom, upscale apartments.

2020

The BenMar Apartments

Acquisition and conversion of two mostly vacant former office buildings in the 100 block of Pine Street into apartment units: 25 in a modern farmhouse style with first floor retail, and 49 in mid-century modern with an existing restaurant on the first floor.
2020

The Fox on Washington

Conversion of the long-vacant former Santanna’s Seafood House in the Shipoke neighborhood into 8 art-deco style apartments.
2018

The Bogg on Cranberry

Acquisition and rehabilitation of a vacant office building into 12 new apartments in a modern farmhouse style.
2016

SoMa on Third

SoMa On Third is an acquisition and rehabilitation of 8 row buildings, converted into 20 new apartment units with first floor retail space. It includes stringing of decorative lights above the street to beautify and enhance the sense of community in this new neighborhood.
2016

F@TT Fifteen @ Twenty-Two

Fifteen @Twenty-Two is a conversion of former office space into fifteen luxury apartment units with a first-floor restaurant space in a historic building on South 3rd Street.
2016

The Flats at Strawberry Square

Harristown served as developer and manager for The Flats at Strawberry Square. The Flats at Strawberry Square is a conversion of former offices at 11 N 3rd Street to 24 upscale apartment units inside Strawberry Square with high end finishes.
2009

Capital Area School for the Arts

Harristown served as the developer and owner and partnered with CAIU and Open Stage of Harrisburg in the development of Capital Area School for the Arts. Capital Area School of the Arts (or just CASA) is a 15,000 square foot space in Strawberry Square with specialized classrooms for the arts, including a dance floor, changing rooms, and music and theatre equipped spaces.
2007

Messiah College Harrisburg Institute

Dewberry, L.L.C., an affiliate of Harristown, acquired this building in 2006. The building was renovated and leased to Messiah College, and now to Harrisburg University. The facility consists of furnished student housing for 25, a classroom, conference room, and offices. The building housed the McCreath Laboratories for 50 years. It was built in the 1890s and was originally a brewery.
2007

Dewberry Streetscape

The streetscape improvements of Dewberry and Blackberry Streets include widening the west side sidewalk and reducing the width of the east sidewalk to make both safe for walking. Enhancements include brick and concrete sidewalk accentuated by historic street lights, new trees, granite curbs and bollards.
2002

International House Harrisburg & Expansions in 2005 & 2011

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dauphin County, PA Hardwood Development Council, Hardwood Product Companies and served as developer, owner and property manager. Completed in 3 phases, this vibrant international student/intern residential complex has over 50,000 sq ft of space, 160 beds in furnished units and multi-cultural lounges for events.
2001

Shops on Third

Harristown served as developer and manager for this retail project. Dramatic lease hold improvements and the renovation of existing spaces for six new street level retailers on Third and Market Streets enhanced this street block.
1999

Whitaker Center

The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is a unique complex containing a science center, a 200-seat digital theater and a 660-seat performing arts theater. Harristown served a role in site acquisition, project management and financial management.
1999

Kunkel Building

An affiliate of Harristown acquired and renovated three floors of this historic, office building to create a new home for the Susquehanna Art Museum, as well as office spaces for arts organizations. The Susquehanna Art Museum has since moved, and the building was sold to another private developer who converted it to student housing for Harrisburg University.
1990

Hilton Harrisburg

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg, HUD, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, private investors and served as developer and owner of the 15-story, 341 room, 4 diamond, first-class Hilton Hotel until 2012. The hotel contains a lobby bar, casual and fine dining, 10,000-square-foot ballroom, swimming pool and fitness area.
1989

Strawberry Square - Phase II

Historic preservation expansion of Strawberry Square, included 241,000 additional square feet of high-end office and retail space linked by glass skylights and paved walkways.
1985

Aberdeen Mews

Rehabilitation of three-and four-story row buildings along 4th and Walnut Streets. 18 commercial offices, 30 residential units, and retail and restaurant space.
1985

Harrisburg Transportation Center

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg, the Federal government and Capital Area Transit and served in pre-development and land acquisition phases for the Harrisburg Transportation Center. This project was a historic rehabilitation on the main station and surrounding properties.
1982

MLK City Government Center

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg and served in the pre-development phase and later as project manager for this four-story, 136,000 square foot City Government office center.
1980

333 Market Street

Harristown served as the developer and is the property manager of this 22-story mixed-use commercial office building that contains over 400,000 square feet of State office space and common area with 14,500 square feet of retail space.
1980

Menaker Building

Harristown held the role of developer and property manager for the rehabilitation of this historic six-floor office building. When completed, it also housed space for street retail or restaurant usage.
1979

Strawberry Square - Phase I

Over 1.1 million square foot commercial, office and retail complex including a public atrium. Project partners included the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Bell of Pennsylvania (Verizon) and the City of Harrisburg.

Our Projects

We are continually working to enhance existing facilities and foster programs to create a more vibrant community

Harristown Development Corporation is a non-profit real-estate development company that has been devoted to revitalizing downtown Harrisburg since 1974. Here at Harristown, we are helping make Harrisburg a better place to live, work and play.

Phone

(717) 255-1038

Email

info@harristown.net

Address

320 Market Street
Suite 273 E
Harrisburg, PA 17101

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