Trending
Saint Francis University will become a partner with Curry Realty in a major redevelopment project downtown, according to information presented at a meeting of the Altoona Planning Commission on Tuesday.
The university will be conducting aspects of its engineering and business programs in the first floor of the former Vipond building on the 1400 block of 11th Avenue, which Curry has been renovating for two years and which it expects to complete by August, according to Curry consultant Ron McConnell, a former local hospital executive.
The expectation is that the engineering labs and simulators in the building -- whose top two floors will become headquarters for the Curry companies, now based in Morrisons Cove -- will help generate talent for the firm, whose business includes heavy duty, off-road trucks and rail cars, according to McConnell.
The company has received a $1.55 million loan through the state Department of Community and Economic Development for the $4 million project, as reported in 2019.
The firm has also obtained a total of $1.5 million in tax credits through the National Park Service and the Enterprise Zone program of DCED, according to McConnell.
The historic site was actually two buildings originally constructed in the 1920s -- the first Sears and the first J.C. Penney Co. store in Blair County, according to information provided by McConnell.
The commission on Tuesday approved a land development plan for the project, which includes a 5-foot walkway along the far edge of what was known as Curtin Plaza, adjacent to the structure.
That will provide access between the large Altoona Parking Authority lot behind the building and 11th Avenue, in keeping with a deed restriction attached to the plaza, an arrangement endorsed Tuesday by the commission.
Curry plans to develop the rest of the plaza as a pocket park for users of the building.
In addition to students, there will be a total of 50 to 75 employees stationed there -- workers for Curry, Saint Francis and a financial services tenant in the basement, McConnell estimated.
Commission members complimented Curry on the development.
"It's good to see something happening," said member Dave Albright, an architect. "Feet on the street is really important."
Curry also owns the former Chalk Box on 11th Avenue, which will become Levity Brewing Co., and the former Kress building, also on 11th Avenue, although it hasn't decided what to do with it, according to McConnell.
The Curry companies comprise Curry Supply, Curry Rail Services, Curry Fluid Power, Curry Trucking, Curry Designs and Curry Realty.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.