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Shoppes at Belmont developer preserving Mayer house across Fruitville Pike

//June 2, 2017//

Shoppes at Belmont developer preserving Mayer house across Fruitville Pike

//June 2, 2017//

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Lancaster County-based Manbel Devco, the developer behind the Whole Foods-anchored Shoppes at Belmont, which is slated to open in early 2018, has begun preserving the David M. Mayer house across the street from the new shopping center.

The home was built between 1870 and 1874 as part of the former Mayer-Hess farmstead, which is the site of the new retail and residential complex.

“It’s one of those visible historic houses and I had made a promise we were going to preserve it,” said Phil Frey, principal owner of Manbel Devco.

Eight years ago, the company bought the farm property off Fruitville Pike for the development. Belmont construction got underway last year.

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The estimated $350,000 preservation project, which could take about four months, will include extensive exterior renovations. Eby Exteriors, a Lancaster County firm, was hired for the job.

That work will include painting, restoring woodwork, fixing masonry, rebuilding the 4,000-square-foot home’s large porch and restoring its 63 unique windows.

The grounds will be improved, too, with the restoration of an historic iron fence and stones gates.

Frey wants a uniform look between the house and the modern Belmont project. “We’re tying in the grounds, the landscaping, the fence,” he said.

The three-story Mayer house, which sits on about 5.4 acres, has become a symbol of the Belmont project. The cupola on top is the logo for the shopping center.

After the work is completed, the developer is hoping to have a professional office tenant or maybe a cafe business reuse the building.

“I think the most natural tenant is professional office,” Frey said. “It would be wonderful as a full blown restaurant, but there is not enough parking for that.”

Amy Spangler

Given the leasing activity and pace of construction across the street, as well as a planned Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel adjacent to the Mayer house, Frey said he is confident someone will fall in love with the historic home for a business location.

“Development is going to continue, but the commitment to maintaining the David M. Mayer house as part of the new development, rather than demolishing it, preserves a piece of history and adds an interesting component,” said Mindy Crawford, executive director of Preservation PA, a statewide nonprofit organization. “We need to work together to keep the best of our rich history. Using the historic Mayer house in a new way maintains an architecturally significant resource and allows it to have a new future.”

The neighboring hotel project, which will be developed by York Township-based Springwood Hospitality, is expected to begin this summer and open next year.

Site work for the entire Belmont tract will cost about $12 million, Frey said. When completed, the value of the entire development has been projected around $100 million.