University Park, Pa. -- Penn State is proposing a property acquisition with a unique development concept that would reshape a portion of the North Atherton 'streetscape' into a thriving, attractive gateway to State College and the University Park campus.
The University's Board of Trustees today (Nov. 14) approved a plan to purchase a five-lot parcel totaling 1.465 acres owned by H.O. Smith & Sons Inc. The property, located within the 100 block of North Atherton Street and divided by Railroad Avenue, includes four buildings currently used for retail, housing and other mixed uses.
The proposal includes the removal of existing structures and the construction of two new buildings that will create an architecturally unified complex along North Atherton Street. They include a new University research building north of Railroad Avenue and a landmark mixed-use building south of Railroad Avenue.
The plan is an innovative development concept that would serve as the standard for future developments in the borough's Urban Village. The cost to obtain the property, pending acceptance of the development plan by the sellers, would total $2 million.
"We expect this project to be a landmark for future generations, while creating an impressive, economically viable gateway to the downtown and the University," said Gary C. Schultz, senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer at Penn State.
"The concept gives special attention to the quality of the new buildings and civic spaces they frame to create an environment that maintains the University's highest standards of planning and design," he added.
The new academic facility north of Railroad Avenue would be a 200,000-square-foot building with parking provided through the University's campus-wide parking system.
A 72,000-square-foot, mixed-use building will include: Street-level retail space along North Atherton Street, totaling 12,000 square feet; three floors of office space above the retail space, totaling 36,000 square feet; and two floors of residential space with room for 20 units averaging 1,200 square feet each.
Parking adjacent to this building will accommodate 125 vehicles including at-grade spaces and spaces in a one-level basement garage.
The concept would unify the streetscape environment, strengthen and connect pedestrian circulation routes in this area, and create a vibrant extension of the campus and the downtown business district.
"The design concept recognizes the importance of a vital pedestrian environment. A significant asset of downtown State College is its wonderful residential and commercial streets, which contribute to the quality of life and pedestrian experience downtown," said Gordon Turow, director of campus planning and design. "The quality of existing streets around the property will be greatly enhanced by our development concept, which emulates the quality and scale of downtown streets."
As part of the development concept, the University would relocate the bus depot to another convenient site on University property in accordance with the University Park Master Plan and the University's Intermodal Transportation Plan.
The request for proposals from the Smith family stipulated that potential buyers provide innovative ideas and concepts for developing the property. In addition to exceeding this requirement and satisfying an important University interest, Penn State's proposal incorporates recommendations of the Downtown Vision and Strategic Plan and expands the Centre Region tax base.
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View sketch plans at http://live.psu.edu/still_life/11_14_03_bot/index.html