In January’s Keystone Edge, what’s old is new again in Pennsylvania.

Abandoned Properties Land Bank - Before Rebuilding
Refurbished properties Dauphin County Land Bank- After Rebuilding

This month, what’s old is new again in Pennsylvania. Keystone Edge — an online magazine covering what’s next and best in the state — is back with a peek at our latest edition.

From an innovative land bank to an old building coming back to life, this month’s issue of Keystone Edge brings the past into the future. It’s all thanks to dedicated commonwealth communities rallying around the idea of reuse.

In Dauphin County, a group of stakeholders is turning abandoned properties into economic success stories. In 2013, Pennsylvania passed a law allowing local government entities to create land banks to purchase and refurbish abandoned commercial and residential properties. The profits from the subsequent sales are then invested into the next project. It’s a huge opportunity for the Harrisburg area.

“The land bank will help communities address problem properties and spur further development,” says Frank Lynch, president of the Susquehanna Township Commissioners. “This is a visionary, all-hands-on-deck-type event built with blood, sweat, and tears. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this authority.”

Meanwhile in Scranton, the iconic Globe Store had fallen on hard times. A prime site for local nostalgia, the building in the heart of downtown closed 23 years ago. Now it is getting new life as “The Lackawanna County Government Center at the Globe.” The county government acquired the vacated building last spring and will begin operations there by early 2019. Most of the alterations will be on the interior.

“The historic nature of the Globe building will be respected by preserving the main façade on Wyoming Avenue in celebration of its grandeur and significance to the downtown fabric of Scranton,” says John Palumbo of The Palumbo Group, the architectural firm handling the design.

Reviving a classic look goes beyond the built environment. In West Reading, a digital creative agency is eschewing the sleek, modern, tech-world aesthetic in favor of lush, vintage-inspired vibes. Neo-Pangea does work for international clients such as Nickelodeon and the National Geographic Channel, while also supporting local institutions like the Reading Public Museum.

“We see ourselves as digital artisans who work with our hands to create emotional, bespoke marketing projects,” explains the company’s Bob Trate. “We strive to stand out by avoiding the modern, mass-produced aesthetic that’s oversaturating our industry.”

Also included in our January issue is another dispatch from Wayne Barz at Ben Franklin TechVentures. His monthly columns offer advice to up-and-coming entrepreneurs, providing invaluable insight. This time he’s talking about landing that first big sale.

We’re looking forward to another great year on the edge. See you next month.

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