Kinsley Properties restoring historic York building

Commercial real estate development company Kinsley Properties has started repairs and restoration of the historic Western Maryland Railway Freight Offices in downtown York.

Built in 1896, the railroad office building on the corner of North George Street and the Codorus Creek was designed by York architect John A. Dempwolf. The 2,684-square-foot building has sat vacant since it was last used as a transfer station for grain and will be repurposed for a future tenant.

The York-based company doing the construction hopes to have exterior renovations completed by spring 2020. A future tenant is yet to be determined.

“Kinsley Properties is committed to community revitalization and preserving historic properties in the City of York,” said Timothy Kinsley, president of Kinsley Properties. “The historic architecture in York is one of the city’s most valuable assets. We must preserve gateway properties like the Western Maryland Railway building in our community for future generations and to tell York’s rich architectural history.”

Building renovations were designed by Kinsley Properties to obtain the approval of the city’s Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB). While Kinsley is overseeing the restoration, York-based architectural firm Warehaus is serving as the historic preservation consultant on the project.

The cost of the renovation project has not been disclosed.

“We are looking to ensure that anything done to the building – from windows to the roof, doors, and masonry work – keeps with the character of the HARB district and is historically appropriate,” said Becky Zeller, historic preservationist at Warehaus. “York has a rich industrial heritage and this restored property on the corner of North George Street will serve as an important and highly visible gateway into the city and its downtown area.”