City officials continue to dangle the east side of Lancaster Square to potential developers, but as of yet none has taken the bait.
Even demolishing the bulk of the concrete albatross that has loomed over North Queen Street for more than 30 years has piqued little interest, said Randy Patterson, the city's director of economic revitalization and neighborhood development.
The $1.6 million project, scheduled for completion in February, will reduce a developer's "cost of entry to develop the eastern side," Patterson said. "But we haven't been able to find a developer willing to pay that entry cost."
That cost, he said, would also include the purchase price of either the Brunswick Hotel at Queen and Chestnut streets, or the former Bulova building at Queen and Orange. One or both of those properties, Patterson said, would provide a developer with enough additional space to make any project financially viable.
"The city only owns the walkway and plaza, which is about .7 acres," Patterson said. "The balance is all privately owned properties.
"We've talked about selling our .7-acre-plot, but no one has expressed interest in buying it."
The 100 block of North Queen Street has seen fitful — and futile — attempts at "progress" for more than 40 years.
In the early 1960s, Lancaster city faced a declining population, dwindling retail sales and an ever-eroding tax base. To lure shoppers back from the suburbs, officials used federal grant money to raze the "blighted" 100 block of North Queen in 1965.
When the project was completed, a dumbbell-shaped monolith stood on the east side, connected by pedestrian bridges to its grimly utilitarian partner on the west.
Beautiful marble facades were demolished to build the "concrete monstrosity," as Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray called it. It never became the draw its planners intended, instead playing host to a series of short-lived shops and a movie theater that closed in 1995.
Bulova Technologies' recent decision to close its North Queen Street operation — in the building originally constructed for a Hess's department store — does not alter the city's plans.
"The use that was in there wouldn't have prevented using the rest of the building for other purposes," Patterson said.
Commerce Bank of Harrisburg still plans to complete its $5 million project to construct offices on the first floor. Those plans, said Patterson, include aesthetic improvements to the property as well.
"They are going to put an awning on the building along Queen and Orange streets," he said. "Commerce is also putting windows in on the first floor."
As for the plaza itself, "Part of the issue is that it's a very deep lot," Patterson said. If a developer would like to construct a facility on the plaza, Patterson added, "The city would like to see some of the building come closer to the street."
He said the city has received some inquiries "from restaurateurs looking for a large outdoor eating area."
The demolition, which also includes removal of the pedestrian walkway across Queen Street near Orange Street that began Saturday, is being financed by a federal economic development grant. The square's paving stones are being removed and replaced with a multipurpose covering that can be easily removed, if necessary.
Patterson said demolition has already yielded some benefits to one property owner.
"You can now actually see the Rumba Club from [Queen] Street and the club continues to be very popular," he said.
Officials agree the almost 10-year-old idea to turn the square into an urban entertainment complex is a dead issue.
However, Patterson said, "We are continuing to market that site."
Chip Smedley is a staff writer for the Sunday News. E-mail him at csmedley@lnpnews.com.
