Extraordinary Stories From An Ordinary Guy: The "Transitioning The Stevens House To 10 Prince Apartments" Story

It was an ordinary day. October 24, 2016 and I had just posted a story about The Hoar House which was the restaurant at the time at The Stevens House in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The original Stevens House

Never got to write much about the actual Stevens House Hotel, so my story today will give you a bit more information about the hotel. The original Stevens House at the corner of West King and East Prince Streets opened in 1874. It was primarily designed by Christopher Hager as a reasonably priced place to stay for traveling salesmen who had stopped at his store a half-block to the East of the Stevens House.

Thaddeus Stevens

The hotel was named in honor of Thaddeus Stevens who was a member of the United States House of Representative from Lancaster, Pennsylvania and one of the leaders of the Republican Party during the 1860s. When the hotel was first built, both King and Prince Streets were dirt roads. The original building, with all its angles and pop-outs survived until 1963-64. Many liked the "widow's peak" kind of look and the caps at the tops of the built-out sections. The hotel was demolished to make way for a new, taller and more modern biding. The new Stevens House opened in 1965 with a price of $1.2 million. Then last year the second Stevens House was acquired by Daniel Berger who paid $8.65 million for the hotel to turn it into long-term condominiums.

The original Stevens House Dining Room

The new owner now calls the building 10 Prince Apartments. Each of the 76 units will have a new look with a new heating and cooling system and new appliances through a complete renovation over the next 3 or so years. The nine-story building will also have a new fitness center and lounge.

Another look at the original Stevens House

The vacant restaurant is also going to open once it has a new owner and liquor license. There are also 14 commercial spaces available. The new condos have laminate flooring with ceramic tile and carpet instead of vinyl floors. Walls are now gray instead of white. The original Stevens House will have a totally new look and name, but to me it will still be The Stevens House. Check out the photographs and see what you think from the original building to the new and improved building. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.