College Township Council on Thursday unanimously approved a final land development plan for additions to an existing building that will be the future home of the State College Food Bank.
The food bank is planning to renovate and move to the 14,500-square-foot building at 105/169 Gerald Street. Having long outgrown its current space at 1321 S. Atherton St., the food bank completed the purchase of the property in August for $1.3 million and will be selling its current location.
Plans for the Gerald Street location include a 1,080-square-foot addition at the front of the building, a 3,156-square-foot addition at the rear and 318-square-foot truck dock. The additions will “create suitable client service areas, office areas, pantry and warehouse areas in order to execute [the food bank’s] mission,” Michael Pratt, of Keller Engineering, told council during a sketch plan presentation earlier this year.
The plan also includes 42 parking spaces, including three ADA spots, and a new sidewalk along Gerald Street. Following recommendations by planning commission and staff, council granted a $4,230 fee in lieu of constructing a portion of the sidewalk that would otherwise be required by township ordinance. That piece would wrap around the property to Commercial Boulevard, where there is no sidewalk.
Township Planner Lindsay Schoch said that piece would be along a part of the property that is “very steep” and would require a retaining wall that would make it “extremely costly to build.” The fee in lieu will go to a fund for the township to use toward pedestrian facilities in other areas.
“What they’re putting in gets us what we really needed to have, whereas that other little leg doesn’t do much of anything,” Don Franson, township engineer said. “With the retaining walls it’s really expensive.”
Stormwater management facilities — which currently do not exist on the property — also will be added to the rear of the site, and a collection and conveyance system of inlets, piping and curbing. A landscape buffer is also included in the plans.
Construction on the renovations and additions is expected to begin this summer, with an anticipated occupancy in spring 2024, State College Food Bank Executive Director Allayn Beck previously told StateCollege.com.
The food bank acquired the Gerald Street building after being at the South Atherton Street location far longer than its leadership ever expected. The current space has reached its limitations as the food bank’s services have grown.
Over the past eight years the food bank has transitioned to a “client choice” model that allows clients to select their items in a grocery-store-style setting rather than receiving pre-packaged boxes and bags. The need to stock more and more items for the pantry in a multi-purpose space just under 1,800-square-feet has made the logistics increasingly difficult.
The new facility will allow for a much larger pantry area, expanded distribution hours, enhanced programs and upgraded work spaces and storage areas. All of the food bank’s operations will be consolidated in the new location, eliminating the need for off-site storage at the Nittany Mall and providing room for expanded cooler and freezer space and helping to better assist partner organizations from throughout Centre County.
The location will allow for easier access for many clients, Beck said. State College Food Bank’s pantry is primarily utilized by Centre Region residents, “but we are seeing an increased need from the northern part of the county coming into State College, so we like being just a little further out of town, closer to the highway, easier access that way,” she said in February.
Those taking the bus to the food bank would need to walk up Gerald Street. But Beck said because of the volume of food clients receive at one time, very few take the bus. For those who do, the food bank arranges for rides home.
“We are really positive and looking forward to having this space for us to greater serve Centre County,” Beck said in February. “We are going to be able to serve anyone in need throughout the county and all the other service agencies that are also providing food and services to those in need.”
The Gerald Street building was constructed in the early 1980s as the home of Sir Skate, but for years has been home to multiple businesses, most visibly Apple Hill Antiques. All of the tenants will leave by the end of May.
Apple Hill Antiques is moving in April to 2221 E. College Ave. That building is currently home to Tubbies Bedrooms, which is consolidating its business to the nearby Tubbies Spa and Patio, 2231 E. College Ave.
