Photos: Then and Now, York places and faces

The Articles of Confederation, weightlifting, Harley-Davidson, and those sweet peppermint patties are just a few things associated with the city of York, Pennsylvania.

Then and Now is an ongoing photographic series from Keystone Crossroads, looking at historical images and photographs of today from Pennsylvania cities and towns.

The Articles of Confederation, weightlifting, Harley-Davidson, and those sweet peppermint patties are just a few things associated with the city of York, Pennsylvania.

Nestled in the south central region of the state near the Maryland border, York is a growing city of more than 40,000 residents.

York is known for it’s rich historical past, having served as a temporary capitol during the American Revolutionary War and in more recent history — a city confronting racial tension.

Today, historic landmarks and office buildings are sandwiched between vacant storefronts and small businesses in York’s Center City district.

In the city’s Northwest Triangle near Codorus Creek, recent movement has been made on the potential sale of a former 36,000-square-feet paint factory.

Developers plan on converting the former Keystone Colorworks building into luxury apartments.  The renovation is just one piece of a 10-year plan to reclaim a former brownfield.

York County businessman and democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf recently told reporters that cities are the wave of the future.

“Dense population centers are what people really want … one of the things that we have to start with is the assumption that cities really have a strong future.”

To continue development in York, legislators have been pushing for the state to extend a competitive tax incentive program known as the City Revitalization and Investment Zone (CRIZ) program.

The next round of designations are expected in 2016.

Archival photos courtesy of York County Heritage Trust.