Revitalizing Harrisburg for Over 40 Years

Harristown Development Corporation (the parent company) is a non-profit real-estate development company that since 1974 has been devoted to revitalizing downtown Harrisburg. Here at Harristown, we are helping make Harrisburg a better place to live, work and play. Since the inception of the Harristown Urban Renewal Project and the formation of Harristown, Harrisburg has seen dramatic economic, cultural and community development. Since its inception Harristown has been involved in over $500 million of redevelopment projects in the core of downtown, paid over $200 million in real estate taxes to the various jurisdictions, and now has over 2.5 million s.f. of real estate under ownership or management.

Harristown’s restoration of downtown Harrisburg is changing the way people view and use the city.

Our flagship property is known as Strawberry Square. Strawberry Square is a hub for professionals, residents, visitors and small businesses. Strawberry Square acts as an inclusive center for community events, as the centerpiece of the capital city, a place for downtown employees, residents and visitors to live, work, shop, dine and explore.
Our Mission

Through The Years

We have a long history of development in downtown Harrisburg and have accomplished many notable projects.

January 1

1979
Strawberry Square - Phase I

Over 1.1 million square foot commercial, office and retail complex including a public atrium. Project partners included the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Bell of Pennsylvania (Verizon) and the City of Harrisburg. Learn More...
January 1

1980
Menaker Building

Harristown held the role of developer and property manager for the rehabilitation of this historic six-floor office building. When completed, it also housed space for street retail or restaurant usage. Learn More...
February 1

1980
333 Market Street

Harristown served as the developer and is the property manager of this 22-story mixed-use commercial office building that contains over 400,000 square feet of State office space and common area with 14,500 square feet of retail space. Learn More...
January 1

1982
MLK City Government Center

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg and served in the pre-development phase and later as project manager for this four-story, 136,000 square foot City Government office center. Learn More...
January 1

1985
Harrisburg Transportation Center

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg, the Federal government and Capital Area Transit and served in pre-development and land acquisition phases for the Harrisburg Transportation Center. This project was a historic rehabilitation on the main station and surrounding properties. Learn More...
February 1

1985
Aberdeen Mews

Rehabilitation of three-and four-story row buildings along 4th and Walnut Streets. 18 commercial offices, 30 residential units, and retail and restaurant space. Learn More...
January 1

1989
Strawberry Square - Phase II

Historic preservation expansion of Strawberry Square, included 241,000 additional square feet of high-end office and retail space linked by glass skylights and paved walkways. Learn More...
January 1

1990
Hilton Harrisburg

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg, HUD, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, private investors and served as developer and owner of the 15-story, 341 room, 4 diamond, first-class Hilton Hotel until 2012. The hotel contains a lobby bar, casual and fine dining, 10,000-square-foot ballroom, swimming pool and fitness area. Learn More...
January 1

1999
Kunkel Building

An affiliate of Harristown acquired and renovated three floors of this historic, office building to create a new home for the Susquehanna Art Museum, as well as office spaces for arts organizations. The Susquehanna Art Museum has since moved, and the building was sold to another private developer who converted it to student housing for Harrisburg University. Learn More...
February 1

1999
Whitaker Center

The Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is a unique complex containing a science center, a 200-seat digital theater and a 660-seat performing arts theater. Harristown served a role in site acquisition, project management and financial management. Learn More...
January 1

2001
Shops on Third

Harristown served as developer and manager for this retail project. Dramatic lease hold improvements and the renovation of existing spaces for six new street level retailers on Third and Market Streets enhanced this street block. Learn More...
January 1

2002
International House Harrisburg & Expansions in 2005 & 2011

Harristown partnered with the City of Harrisburg, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dauphin County, PA Hardwood Development Council, Hardwood Product Companies and served as developer, owner and property manager. Completed in 3 phases, this vibrant international student/intern residential complex has over 50,000 sq ft of space, 160 beds in furnished units and multi-cultural lounges for events. Learn More...
January 1

2007
Dewberry Streetscape

The streetscape improvements of Dewberry and Blackberry Streets include widening the west side sidewalk and reducing the width of the east sidewalk to make both safe for walking. Enhancements include brick and concrete sidewalk accentuated by historic street lights, new trees, granite curbs and bollards. Learn More...
February 1

2007
Messiah College Harrisburg Institute

Dewberry, L.L.C., an affiliate of Harristown, acquired this building in 2006. The building was renovated and leased to Messiah College, and now to Harrisburg University. The facility consists of furnished student housing for 25, a classroom, conference room, and offices. The building housed the McCreath Laboratories for 50 years. It was built in the 1890s and was originally a brewery. Learn More...
October 2

2009
Capital Area School for the Arts

Harristown served as the developer and owner and partnered with CAIU and Open Stage of Harrisburg in the development of Capital Area School for the Arts. Capital Area School of the Arts (or just CASA) is a 15,000 square foot space in Strawberry Square with specialized classrooms for the arts, including a dance floor, changing rooms, and music and theatre equipped spaces. Learn More...
January 1

2016
The Flats at Strawberry Square

Harristown served as developer and manager for The Flats at Strawberry Square. The Flats at Strawberry Square is a conversion of former offices at 11 N 3rd Street to 24 upscale apartment units inside Strawberry Square with high end finishes. Learn More...
October 2

2016
F@TT Fifteen @ Twenty-Two

Fifteen @Twenty-Two is a conversion of former office space into fifteen luxury apartment units with a first-floor restaurant space in a historic building on South 3rd Street. Learn More...
November 2

2016
SoMa on Third

SoMa On Third is an acquisition and rehabilitation of 8 row buildings, converted into 20 new apartment units with first floor retail space. It includes stringing of decorative lights above the street to beautify and enhance the sense of community in this new neighborhood. Learn More...
October 2

2018
The Bogg on Cranberry

Acquisition and rehabilitation of a vacant office building into 12 new apartments in a modern farmhouse style. Learn More...
January 1

2020
The Fox on Washington

Conversion of the long-vacant former Santanna’s Seafood House in the Shipoke neighborhood into 8 art-deco style apartments. Learn More...
February 1

2020
The BenMar Apartments

Acquisition and conversion of two mostly vacant former office buildings in the 100 block of Pine Street into apartment units: 25 in a modern farmhouse style with first floor retail, and 49 in mid-century modern with an existing restaurant on the first floor. Learn More...

Latest News

Our Projects

We are continually working to enhance existing facilities and foster programs to create a more vibrant community.