A live music venue could be in the future for downtown York's historic castle
It was built in 1918.
But with its turrets, arched entrance and imposing facade, Gethsemane Hall on North Beaver Street looks like it could have been a castle from medieval days.
This longtime fixture of downtown York is about to get a new owner — and a $4.5 million rehab.
The plan: turn Gethsemane Hall and the former Masonic Hall next door on West Philadelphia Street into a modern facility suitable for a restaurant, music venue or brewery.
It could open as early as 2019.
RSDC, the company formerly known as Royal Square Development and Construction, has an agreement to purchase the two adjoining buildings, which are connected inside, from York's Redevelopment Authority.
The RDA board on Wednesday approved selling the buildings to an RSDC entity, for $1 plus settlement fees and legal costs.
RSDC's plans to spend $4.5 million to modernize the building, said Dylan Bauer, the company's vice president of real estate development.
It seeks to raise $1 million from local investors.
The remainder would come from a $1 million bank loan and a $2 million state grant and $500,000 in tax credits RSDC plans to pursue, Bauer said,
The Redvelopment Authority acquired the former Masonic Hall and Gethsemane Hall from LifePath Christian Ministries n 2016 for $250,000.
The Redvelopment Authority received funding for the purchase from an unidentified donor who wanted to make sure the building would be redeveloped in a way that would promote continued downtown growth, Bauer said.
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The former Masonic Hall building at 55 W. Philadelphia St. was built in 1895.
Its first use was to house the city's post office. It became a Masonic Hall in the early 1900s.
It was used most recently by York Rescue Mission, now known as LifePath Christian Ministries, for the Lighthouse Youth Center.
More:What's up with that castle on Beaver St.? (column)
In other news from Wednesday's RDA meeting:
The board voted to sell a building at 29-31 W. Market St. to an entity of RSDC for $154,013.
The price reflects what the Redevelopmenet Authority paid to acquire the building through eminent domain plus the authority's legal and other fees, Bauer said.
RSDC plans to convert the building, which formerly housed Market Street Saloon, into retail or restaurant space on the ground floor and as many as six apartments on the upper floors.
The building is next to the former Zakie's nightclub building which RSDC is redeveloping into a ground floor restaurant and upstairs apartments.
More:Restaurant coming to Zakie's building in York
