For several years HDC has been seeking opportunities to create new housing communities in our “hometown” of Lancaster, and now for the first time in over two decades we have that opportunity. In partnership with Washington Place Equities (WPE), a Baltimore-based real estate development firm, last month HDC announced plans to transform a former hospital campus into a mixed-use, mixed-income development including affordable and market-rate housing and retail and office space for local businesses and organizations.
This development offers the possibility to add diverse housing and retail/commercial options in the heart of one of Lancaster’s neighborhoods and revitalize an entire city block. Our plans include up to 120 affordable apartments and townhomes to be constructed in two phases, across three parcels throughout the campus.
We believe that investing in new affordable housing in communities with a decades-long history of unequal access to housing, such as the City of Lancaster, is one of the most tangible and long-lasting impacts we can make to remove barriers, increase opportunity and advance equity in the community.
“This will be one of the most important developments the city has seen in many years, not just because of its scale and the historic significance of the hospital for the Lancaster community,” says Dana Hanchin, President and CEO of HDC. “We also have the opportunity to model what equitable development can look like, with a third of the total housing proposed for the site being affordable for working families and households with lower incomes.”
We are in the very early stages of the development process as this month HDC and WPE are presenting the proposed redevelopment to Lancaster’s City Council for rezoning to mixed use. Once rezoning is approved, we will begin the design development process and fundraising/financing for the development. If you are interested in playing a role to help make this transformational project happen, please contact Claude Hicks, Director of Real Estate Development at chicks@hdcweb.com.
To learn more, visit the project website at: www.collegeavenueplanning.com.
Every voice matters. At HDC, we are committed to raising up resident voices and opening doors so that residents can actively participate in the democratic process, speak out on issues important to them and their communities, and communicate how policies affect their everyday lives. We believe it is important to make the time and space to listen, and to support resident leaders in effectively using their voices. We support resident advocacy opportunities through our Resident Academy of Leadership & Inspiration, Voter Registration Drives, and holding constituent meetings and tours with elected officials.
Allentown, PA
Fredericksburg, PA
Lancaster, PA
Finding a place to live that meets one’s basic needs and budget can feel like a never-ending challenge. The complexity of lower-income families and individuals extend far beyond simply finding a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. At HDC, we are committed to being an ally in speaking to issues, programs, and policies that improve quality of life of our residents. Issues that we know are important to our residents include:
We know we can’t solve the affordable housing challenge alone. We need champions to help change the conversation around what home means and why it matters. We are committed to educating elected officials to understand the needs and challenges of their constituents. We are here to provide solutions that work and offer affordable housing expertise that demonstrates the impact policy decisions have on lower-income families, seniors and those with disabilities. We work closely with and participate in alliances and coalitions to educate and advance shared policy priorities. Our advocacy partners include:
Wendy Smith serves as the Vice President of Property Management, responsible for the overall strategic direction for HDC’s management portfolio and the organization’s largest staff team. Previously, Wendy served as Asset and Operations Manager for a leading real estate firm based in New York City which owned over 11,000 affordable homes. Since 2008, Wendy has held roles in regional level operations for commercial and for-profit housing agencies. Wendy holds a degree in International Studies.
