The York thoroughfare connects neighborhoods, businesses, and organizations on the western side of the city. Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects has teamed up with the YMCA of the Roses and community member Montez Parker II to create a Vision Plan for the area.
York City native Montez Parker II sees a bright future for York, but he knows that achieving it will take a lot of work, starting with a stretch of Penn Street.
From the day he returned to York after serving in the Air Force, Parker began advocating for change along the Penn Street corridor. He saw a section of the city with incredible potential but a lack of connection. He envisioned linking the Historic Newton Square neighborhood to the new Homes at Thackston Park, and York College of Pennsylvania’s new Knowledge Park to the residents on Penn Street and the Market & Penn Farmers Market, to create an inclusive, accessible area that “lifts up” residents and businesses.
Parker connected with Larry Richardson, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Roses, and then with Frank Dittenhafer, President & Founder of Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects. Dittenhafer encouraged Parker to take a step back and start with formulating a vision plan.
In July 2022, the York County Community Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to the Y Community Development Corporation, a division of the YMCA of York, to create the South Penn Street Physical Vision Plan. Parker, M&D, and the YMCA, with help from the York College Urban Collaborative, began working on the plan.
Drafting a vision
In the summer, Parker walked along Penn Street with M&D Architectural Designers Harper Brockway and Declan Gatchell. They talked with residents, business owners, and local leaders, then began drafting a vision for Penn Street.
“Montez is such a good local resource,” says Brockway. “He knows a lot of people that live on Penn Street, has a relationship with a lot of local businesses, and gets good feedback from people. People really respect him.”
The vision plan will address opportunities for transforming existing properties for community use, commercial development and residential improvement projects as well as green spaces and streetscapes. It will include improvements to sidewalks, streets, landscaping, and lighting.
“It’s a street that has a lot of potential but has lacked some resources and hasn’t always gotten the attention of people to do a project like this,” Brockway says. “It’s ready to have some attention.”
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Brockway expects to wrap up the vision plan by the beginning of next year and deliver it to the YMCA in early 2023. The planners hope that area stakeholders will take on projects outlined in the document and begin a coordinated and impactful redevelopment along the corridor.
“M&D is always interested in being involved in projects that benefit the communities where we’re located,” Brockway says.
Parker is excited that inclusive development along Penn Street could ignite broad interest.
He envisions “a Penn Street for everyone, that connects the (Penn) Market to residents. A Penn Street where an elderly person can ride their wheelchair to the Market. A Penn Street where teachers at York College or William Penn (Senior High School) can safely live and work. A Penn Street where a college student can connect with a resident along the Codorus Creek.”
“It’s going to be amazing,” he says.
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