Demolition and remediation have begun at an old industrial site in Shippensburg, work that will pave the way for a $30 million mixed-use redevelopment project.
The site, former Domestic Castings property on North Queen Street, is owned by the Real Estate Collaborative LLC, a subsidiary created in 2016 by the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corp.
The collaborative expects demolition on the 60,000-square-foot industrial building will be completed by April.
Environmental cleanup of the site also should be done in the second quarter.
CAEDC CEO Jonathan Bowser said the nearly nine-acre property is poised to house about 100,000 square feet of new commercial space, along with 100 market-rate apartments, which could benefit Shippensburg University and downtown Shippensburg.
“We plan to work with key stakeholders in Shippensburg, to include the university as our direct neighbor, to work on development plans and uses,” Bowser said.
The goal is to entice new restaurants and retail tenants to Shippensburg, as well as office, medical and entertainment users.
Site development work is expected to cost about $2 million. Bowser estimates construction will cost up to $30 million. A joint-venture partner has been identified, he said, but a final agreement is still in the works.
“We expect to commence vertical construction in 2019,” he said.
The REC plans to start marketing the yet-to-be named development later this year.
