City officials in Harrisburg toured reporters through the Broad Street Market this week, offering a look inside the hollowed-out brick building damaged by a July 2023 fire and outlining what comes next.
Mayor Wanda Williams and Facilities Director Dave Baker said the rebuild remains on schedule for completion next summer. Baker pointed to a newly finished roof over the portion of the building closest to the reconstructed market courtyard. For the half closer to 6th Street, where damage was more severe, he said the city is targeting roof completion by winter. Windows are slated for installation in October, with an emphasis on closing the building up before winter weather arrives.
For masonry pros, one detail stood out: the entire brick building has been repointed, with masonry work nearing completion. That puts a premium on protecting fresh mortar joints and interior spaces as the roof, windows, and doors are set. Baker said crews are also stabilizing soil while running mechanical systems through trenches along the center and sides of the building. Framing is underway, and custom doors are planned to match the building’s historic doors.
Williams also noted a settlement with Liberty Mutual Insurance totaling $13.75 million toward the rebuild. The city projects total costs at $23.7 million.
Outside the construction zone, some vendors raised a different issue: communication. Longtime vendor Leon Glick of Two Brothers BBQ said he still does not know where his space will land in the rebuilt building, or whether it will be sized and outfitted for needs like cooler capacity, floor drains, and heavy electrical service. He said he previously spent $20,000 on added power and plumbing after moving into the temporary tent. From a construction management standpoint, his concerns highlight a familiar risk in restoration work: late decisions on tenant utilities can drive rework, including cutting new concrete for drains after turnover.
Read the full, original article from TheBurg here.