Dylan Eilenberger, a senior at Penn State, has been living in State College the past two years and is excited about all the new changes happening in State College.
“I think it’s a good idea, especially the building, “The Rise,” Eilenberger said. “More housing is always good and I know a lot of kids, they are forced to go really far away to get housing. It’s good they are adding more downtown.”
But not all residents feel the same way. In fact, some think State College is becoming too commercialized.
“I would like to see more cultural development rather than just businesses and apartments,” Robert Newton, a software engineer in State College said.
The Rise at State College is a student housing project opening in 5 weeks — and is one of several developments coming to downtown soon.
200,000 square feet of commercial space is planned downtown including an unnamed high rise building on South Garner Street. Penn State Hillel will also be building a community center in that area.
“It’s gonna be really cool to see what businesses start coming to State College,” Douglas Shontz, the communications officer of the State College Borough said.
For now, Eilenberger has continued hope for downtown State College.
“Once it’s all done, I think it will be a good change, a good addition,” Eilenberger said.