Construction of a courthouse and archives in Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – It has been two years of construction for the new State Archives Building and Federal Courthouse in Midtown Harrisburg.

“COVID has come and it’s slowed down but I think towards the end of this year they’re supposed to finish according to construction people, sometimes they come over for a beer,” said Ricardo Suarez, owner of Anastacia restaurant and bar.

His restaurant is located between the new archives and the courthouse.

“When I bought this place in 2006, it was a bad neighborhood. They were killing people. It was a mess,” Suarez said.

Yet he invested half a million dollars in renovating the place. And now the rest of the region is teeming with opportunity.

“You look at how much land is already in development or under contract for something and that’s a good chunk of it, areas between Reilly and Maclay streets,” said Nicole Conway, executive vice president and general counsel. of Vartan. Group.

The Vartan Group saw the potential years ago, building The 1500 Condominium.

“Just because there was a fair amount of vacant land and parcels and it’s such a great location to get in and out of town,” Conway said.

Cafe 1500 has closed due to staffing issues and business disruption, but Crawdaddy’s Restaurant and Bar is ready for new foot traffic once construction is complete.

“I actually live in the area, so I’m super excited for what’s to come in downtown and downtown Harrisburg. I see a lot of things happening and it’s going to be really great for the restaurant,” manager Remaua Kemp said.

According to the United States General Services Administration, it is estimated that by summer the courthouse will be largely complete and that the exterior of the building will be finished by winter.