East End Area Plan

What is happening with the County Prison Site (625 E. King Street)?

In 2020, the County of Lancaster began searching for a location to construct a new county prison facility, which would also result in the closure of the historic prison located in the East End Neighborhood at 625 E. King St. — parts of which have been operable since 1851. The County has selected the new prison site, which resides right outside the city limits, and facility designs are underway.

The future of the historic prison building and its 4.73-acre site raises significant community planning questions, primarily due to the historic building and its surrounding context. While contemporary prisons are well-buffered from residential neighborhoods, this prison property occupies an entire city block, and the structures feature prominently from all four adjacent city streets (E. Orange St., N. Franklin St., E. King St., and N. Marshall St.). Redevelopment of this scale and complexity requires years of lead time to align partners, financial resources, zoning, and strategic initiatives, and will play a major role in the future of this area.

Project Contact: Lauren Finn, Senior Planner, City of Lancaster, lfinn@cityoflancasterpa.gov