Lancaster Parking Authority Hosts Demolition Ceremony At Site of Christian Street Garage and Lancaster Public Library
Lancaster Parking Authority Hosts Demolition Ceremony
At Site of Christian Street Garage and Lancaster Public Library
LANCASTER, PA – The Lancaster Parking Authority hosted a public demolition ceremony today in Ewell Plaza, 151 N. Queen St., Lancaster. The ceremony was the symbolic end to the last standing section of the concrete structure at the former Lancaster Square location.
The old annex will be demolished for the new Christian Street Garage, Lancaster Public Library and retail space, said Larry J. Cohen, executive director of the Lancaster Parking Authority. The new building will be constructed on the north side of the new Ewell Plaza along N. Christian St.
Cohen was joined by City of Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace; Ray D’Agostino, chair, Lancaster CRIZ Authority; Nicholas Boyer, president, Lancaster Public Library Board of Trustees, and Kim Bracey, executive director of the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
“Today, it’s time to begin anew,” said Cohen. “Lancaster Parking Authority is leading the way in bringing the last piece of the revitalization of Ewell Plaza to fruition after all these years of dormancy.”
“For years, whenever anyone talked about the old, abandoned Lancaster Square concrete structure people wanted to ‘tear it down,’” said Cohen. “I thought it was only appropriate to officially kick off the revitalization by leading the group in a chorus of ‘tear it down, tear it down.’”
The group took turns using a sledgehammer to break up pieces of a concrete pillar, symbolically clearing the way for the new construction. Demolition is scheduled for October through January.
“We are proud to be the developer of a project of this magnitude that will create lifelong positive impact on the City, with beautiful new public art, retail and the parking to support the entire development,” said Cohen.
The $28 million construction cost of the project will be covered by Lancaster Parking Authority bonds and additional funding provided through the CRIZ Authority, said Cohen.