Plans for unoccupied lots being finalized downtown

By ANGELA J. GATES
Collegian Staff Writer

Plans are taking shape for two unoccupied lots in the downtown area that may bring more vitality, life and shoppers to State College, a local developer said.

Both the Danks Department Store building and the empty lot of the former McLanahan's Drug Store, on the 100 block of South Allen Street, will be leased for retail space.

Edward Friedman, local real estate developer and owner of the former McLanahan's lot, said he hopes to contract a retailer for the space to enhance the downtown and make it a better place to shop.

Abercrombie & Fitch, a national clothing chain, may rent the space, although no lease has been signed yet, he said.

A proposed one-story building would have 10,000 square feet of space and include a possible three-bedroom apartment in the back, Friedman said.

Herman Slaybaugh, borough zoning officer, said he is reviewing plans for the building to make sure they are in compliance with zoning laws.

However, a zoning ordinance may require the building to sit about 18 feet back from the sidewalk, State College Borough Council member Elizabeth Goreham said. Most buildings are only required to sit back five to 10 feet from the sidewalk, she said.

Borough council most likely will amend the ordinance and establish a formula to determine a more reasonable distance, Jean McManis, borough council president, said. The distance would be an average of the space adjacent buildings are set back from sidewalk, she said.

Next to the lot, the Danks building also will be occupied in the coming months.

"This is very good news," McManis said. "The old McLanahan's site is no longer a problem and at last it appears Danks (building) will come back to life."

Nina Woskob, owner of GN Associates, 119 S. Burrowes St., said the realty group purchased the Danks building, located on the corner of South Allen Street and West Beaver Avenue. The sale was finalized Feb. 12, she added.

GN Associates plans to lease the first two floors of the building for retail or office space, said Brad Karch, a realtor with Kissinger, Bigatel & Brower, Realtors, 2300 S. Atherton St., which negotiated the sale.

Several apartments may be built on the upper floors of the building, he said. GN Associates hopes to have them available for rent by August of next year, Karch said.