The Erie Downtown Development Corporation (EDDC), a nonprofit formed in 2017, has been championing reinvestment in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, connecting natural and developed amenities to bring vibrancy back to the city center. Erie has no shortage of character and history. It has needed amenities and opportunities for people to visit and stay in the city.

The Plan

Targeting three underutilized blocks downtown, EDDC and Kahn established a plan to preserve and adapt historic structures while creating new buildings that add needed housing, dining, retail, office space, and unique experiences for residents and visitors. The flagship development, the Flagship City Food Hall, anchors the district as a culinary destination, with supporting retail in adjacent storefronts. Smaller storefronts throughout the development are designed to bring independent businesses and startups into downtown Erie. New and renovated residential apartments provide long-awaited downtown living options for area students, professionals, and families.

Historic Preservation Approach

A guiding principle throughout the project has been: if it is historic, save its character, but make it workable for contemporary needs. Some of the buildings involved are 150 years old and carry a unique history worth preserving. The team researched each building's history and photographs, discovering that some had seen anywhere from 15 to 20 different storefronts over their lifespans. Rather than recreating an exact replica, the team replaced these storefronts with modern designs that share a similar geometry or framework to the originals.

To make these historic structures usable today, updates include improved accessibility, replaced mechanical systems, and added fireproofing to meet current building codes.

Impact

This development is bringing new life and vibrancy to downtown Erie. Kahn and EDDC are capturing the city's cultural and historical significance while sparking renewed interest in living, working, and playing downtown, a strategy that could be adapted to other cities.