I must admit to being mildly disappointed when I heard that the Hallman Hyundai dealership was going to acquire the Koehler property land on the west side of State Street.
You’ve probably heard by now that the oft-changed, oft-delayed, oft-debated Koehler project is moving from the former brewery’s west lot to the still existing buildings across State Street if the Governor approves.
The west side property has received the most publicity over the past several years, as developer Brad Fairfield proposed a huge, $50 million dollar hotel, restaurant and market complex.
The media rolled out the circus when explosives were used to take down the property’s signature smoke stack.
But the deal was walking on the Achilles’ heel of relying mainly on government money, and as the Governor’s Mansion changed hands the project went up and down the list of priorities for Harrisburg.
That caused the tenants who were originally penciled in to pull out the erasers, to the point where the project downsized out of recognition.
Fairfield moved on and Governor Ed Rendell moved to yank five million dollars in promised funding.
The revitalization effort by a small group of local investors started when Rendell agreed to hold up on the funding until the new plan (with private financing) could be reviewed.
That meant looking at the best options for making the numbers crunch, which for the new group meant moving the project across the street to rehab the existing buildings and allowing the neighboring car dealership to take over the recently razed lot.
The disappointment comes from the fact that the dealership had wanted the property all along, and was seen by some as the fall back plan should bigger development not materialize.
But it is also a disappointment tempered by what Mayor Joe Sinnott said when he reminded me that the dealership could always leave the city limits for the fertile ground of upper Peach Street.
“Sometimes it’s best to dance with those who brought you,” he said.
With all due respect to the Mayor, and the old adage, it occurs to me that a small addition might be in order:
“Sometimes it’s best to dance with those who brought you, especially when they pay taxes on what they buy.”
HEY! We always welcome any thoughts you have on any subject, but because I'm on assignment in China I won't be able to approve comments until my return.
We're looking into business practices there and how that will affect jobs here in the years to come. Should make for some interesting columns down the road!