Developing Lancaster, A Builders View
Ben Lesher, SDL Devco
Developing Lancaster, A Builders View
Introduced by Tom Gemmill
The presentation will include in-depth look at the challenges and development of Stadium Row, the first all new construction apartment project in the City of Lancaster in over 50 years, as well as a look at the future Stockyard Inn redevelopment called The Yards, The Yards is a 200+ unit, transit-oriented, mixed-use development on the northern edge of the City, sharing a boundary with Manheim Township, and is located on a key corridor and central hub for the County. I will touch on the mixed-income project goal to incorporate some lower-income units into the housing component. I will end with a general discussion of the current challenges facing housing development locally and across the nation from a developer’s perspective.
Benjamin J. Lesher, MCRP/MBA is President & Founder of SDL Devco, LLC, a real estate development firm that focuses on multi-family and urban redevelopment projects in South Central Pennsylvania. Prior to starting SDL Devco, LLC, Ben worked for an affordable housing developer based in Mechanicsburg, PA and a leasing creative land development and reuse firm in Lancaster, PA. In addition, Ben has provided pre-development and downtown redevelopment consulting services to multiple municipalities in North Carolina while working at the Development Finance Initiative. Ben serves on the Board of Chestnut Housing Corporation, which provides affordable rental housing for families experiencing homelessness in Lancaster City. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Gordon College as well as a Master of City and Regional Planning and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Lesher’s company is named SDL Devco, in honor of his grandparents (Strong, his grandmother’s maiden name, Detweiler, his grandfather’s name), parents and sister (Lesher) and himself. They recently completed, Stadium Row Apartments, the largest new construction apartment building in the City of Lancaster, PA in five decades. They are now working on Stockyards Apartments.
Lesher is married to his wife Rachel and they have 2 children, Ava, age 4, and Henry, 9 months. They live in Lancaster city. Lesher received his bachelor’s degree, Gordon College; and his master’s degree in city and regional planning, and his MBA with a focus in real estate development from University of North Carolina. Previous work experience includes Drogaris Companies, Lancaster, project support staff, 2011-2013; and Monarch Development Group, Mechanicsburg, development project manager, 2016-2020. Lesher sits on the board of East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church's nonprofit corporation that manages 10 apartments and homes leased to city residents who formerly were homeless.
Ben Lesher:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminlesher/
Stadium Row Apartments:
https://www.stadiumrowapts.com/
Stadium Row Apartments next to Clipper Ballpark:
https://lancasteronline.com/business/local_business/new-stadium-row-apartment-building-next-to-clipper-ballpark-already-83-leased/article_a693d2a6-2d45-11ec-a21d-fb534a6e8489.html