Keystone CORE Services


Background

In 2009, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) created a subsidiary nonprofit organization called Keystone C.O.R.E. Services, Inc. (KCS). C.O.R.E. stands for Community Oriented Real Estate, which is based upon the community-initiated real estate intervention process developed by Donovan Rypkema for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Center. KCS is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a separate IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organization.

Mission

The mission of KCS is to act as a redevelopment partner for the reclamation and rehabilitation of blighted and deteriorated properties in which the private sector has not reinvested or redeveloped. KCS is led by a nine member board of directors, which is never comprised of more than 49 percent of PDC board members.

Conservatorship Act

The passage of the Conservatorship Act by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Legislature, as well as the passage of the Blight Bill, have further strengthened PDC’s belief that a more direct role in real estate redevelopment (with local organizations that have an interest in but reluctance to intervene in their local real estate market) is increasingly necessary in order to assist in the integration of real estate development in local revitalization programs across Pennsylvania.

KCS BOARD MEMBERS

BOARD CHAIR:

  • Andy Walker, Allegheny College

BOARD VICE-CHAIR:

  • Linda Nitch, DON Services

TREASURER AND CORPORATE SECRETARY:

  • Bill Fontana, PDC Director of Strategic Initiatives, Emeritus

ASSISTANT TREASURER AND ASSISTANT CORPORATE SECRETARY:

  • Julie Fitzpatrick, PDC Executive Director

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD:

  • Debbie Brodeur, Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation
  • Donn Henderson, City of Washington
  • Kim Kmetz, Greater Easton Development Partnership
  • Todd Pousley, NeighborWorks, NEPA
  • Jon Zimmerman, Downtown Lewistown, Inc

Current Projects

Downtown Shenandoah Innovation Center (Concept) from Maria Wherley on Vimeo.

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