What started out as a renovation company has become what
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer John McElligott calls a “social
entrepreneurship” company.
Royal Square Development began with Susquehanna
Renovations Inc. under President and CEO Josh Hankey. With McElligott and
Alexandra Dwyer, chief of community development and engagement, it has
developed a philosophy of encouraging “entrepreneurs, artists and community
leaders to reimagine the future of their city while honoring its past.”
“At our core,” McElligott said, “we provide opportunities
for people to start businesses.”
With 47 properties across York — 36 of them in the Royal
Square neighborhood bounded by King, Queen, Duke and Princess streets — the
company also is in the business of bringing the city together.
Apparently, others who have capital believe in the
company. Former Gov. George Leader's family is an investor in The Bond
building, a $1.5 million combination events venue and coworking space — and one
of Royal Square Development's largest projects.
“I knew that if I myself and my father (Michael), if we
could assist in the charge to reinvest, not just financially, but with time,
ideas and passion, into York and York city, that it would be part of the
ultimate drive in reinvigorating businesses and the city in general,” said
Leader's grandson, George M. Leader IV. “You can say that kind of thing and not
mean it, and you can say it and actually get out and do it.”
The Bond
McElligott noted the 40,000-square-foot Bond building,
built in 1929, is being renovated in two phases: About 10,000 square feet is
space designed to fill a niche in the exploding wedding venue market.
“There are a lot of old barns being turned into venues,”
he said. “There's a push out there for industrial locations.”
Another 10,000 square feet is being turned into an
industrial-themed coworking site for artists. Working with York College, the
company hopes the space will become a site of the international Impact Hub
movement. Eventually, Royal Square will have offices in the building, too. But
there's more to it than just providing office and work space.
The Bond building has a unique history.
After two summers of race riots in 1968 and 1969, there
was racial violence in Penn Park, a few blocks south of Royal Square. As part
of this, William Penn Senior High School was closed. McElligott said Royal
Square Development did research and found the Bond had been used as a site to
bring the divided community together.
“Soon thereafter, the York Charrette convened for a
multi-day event at the Bond Sanitary Product building that, according to (news
accounts), 'did much to begin the healing of a divided city,'” states a packet
Royal Square put together about the venue. “York was free of major civil
disturbances in the summer of 1970.”
In other words, McElligott said, the building was “a
bridge for the different parts of the city.”
He said he sees Royal Square Development building bridges
in York, too. That doesn't just mean different ethnicities but also different
generations.
That's where people like the Leaders come in, he said.
“There are lots of families who loved the city, but
they've not been engaged,” he said. “Now, we're here, we're moving fast, and
we're taking risks. There's a whole generation looking for change and purpose.”
Leader, who lives in Philadelphia and is a professor at
the College of New Jersey, agreed. He paraphrased a line from his grandfather's
last inauguration speech, which was taken from the Book of Proverbs.
“Where there is no vision, the people will perish,” he
said. “These guys down here have vision. They're getting it to work. They're
not waiting for everybody else to give their every bit of support. They're in
motion.”
Making connections
For the business community, as well as for downtown
revitalization, what Royal Square Development has done has been phenomenal,
said Natalie Williams.
“What they're doing is extremely important, that they are
taking on these larger projects and helping young entrepreneurs make
connections,” said Williams, small-business liaison with Downtown Inc, an
organization dedicated to fostering investment in York's downtown.
The group has a six-month option to buy the former
Woolworth building. Though the official plans won't be announced until next
month, McElligott has said the group envisions the space at 44-50 West Market
St. as a mix of residential and retail space.
“They understand that there's a need for downtown
residents,” Williams said. “There's a need for market rate apartments in
downtown so then you can increase the spending dollars available for what
they're growing out of their social entrepreneurship. They're bringing critical
mass.”
Source: Central
Penn Business Journal
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