GREENCASTLE – The City of Hagerstown has announced plans to repurpose the former Citicorp complex on Citicorp Drive into a homeless and human services resource center. Antrim Township leaders are raising concerns about the scale of this proposal, its proximity to the Pennsylvania border and the impact it could have on surrounding communities.
Background
- In a series of radio interviews, Hagerstown Mayor Bill McIntire described the Citicorp property as the future site for a 24/7 “crisis center.”
- The plan is tied to the city’s anti-camping ordinance, which imposes penalties for outdoor sleeping and allows police to transport individuals to the new center.
- McIntire has said the facility will bring together mental health providers, addiction services, community action programs and other social service groups under one roof.
- The building was described as a “gift” from the Bowman family to the City of Hagerstown, with the city responsible for operating and outfitting the property.
- McIntire has also suggested the facility could expand over time, calling this “only the beginning.”
Township Concerns
- Cross-Border Impacts: The Citicorp campus sits less than a quarter mile from the Pennsylvania line. The closest community is the Village of State Line, and eventually, downtown Greencastle; Antrim Township does not have a police department of its own. Residents there could feel the most immediate effects, from increased foot traffic to new demands on public safety. For those being discharged from the facility, their closest access to retail, restaurants and any services would be State Line, not Hagerstown.
- Emergency Services: Rescue Hose Company in Greencastle is likely the closest EMS provider to the Citicorp site and would most definitely be dispatched to respond to calls. This would add new pressures to a volunteer company already covering a wide area and doing their best to serve residents.
- Resource Burden: A 24/7 intake and services hub will generate calls for law enforcement, EMS and fire response. Antrim Township, Franklin County and Pennsylvania State Police should not be expected to shoulder added responsibility for a facility chosen and approved by Hagerstown and Washington County without regional planning. Why is it fair that Antrim Township residents are expected to bear the burden for the increases in support, resources and personnel for a pet project that the City of Hagerstown has decided to undertake?
- Transparency: Planning meetings have been held with city, county, school and state leaders in Maryland, but Pennsylvania municipal and emergency services leaders have not been included. These conversations must involve all neighboring communities who will be impacted.
- Public Safety History: In 2007, a man drifting through the area committed a brutal murder in Antrim Township, killing a local woman in her own home. This tragedy is a sobering reminder that transient criminal activity has touched the community before and why public safety must be central to any proposal of this kind.
Statement from Antrim Township
“Homelessness and addiction are serious issues, but shifting the burden from the City of Hagerstown to the county line is not a solution,” said Chris Ardinger, administrator of Antrim Township. “This proposal raises significant concerns for Antrim Township, Franklin County and our emergency services. We need transparency, input and a clear understanding of how this facility will impact our residents before it proceeds.”
Ardinger continued, “The City of Hagerstown and its elected officials recently authorized the purchase of the old YMCA building downtown. The mayor himself has noted that a church group once wanted to use that site as a homeless resource center. This purchase seems like a far better opportunity to consolidate homeless, mental health and human services where people already have direct access to downtown resources. Locating such a facility downtown, rather than nearly eight miles away at the Citicorp site, would make far more sense for those in need.”
Commitment to residents
Antrim Township will:
- Continue monitoring the proposal and provide updates to residents, local, state and federal officials and partner agencies.
- Seek cooperation with Hagerstown, Washington County, and Franklin County officials to address shared concerns.
- Advocate for transparency and public involvement in all stages of the project.
How can Pennsylvania residents offer input?
- Readers may drop Antrim Township an email by contacting the administrator at [email protected] ir by calling 717-597-3818; they may send a letter or attend a Board of Supervisors meeting on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m.
- Township officials also encourage residents to contact their state representatives and give them feedback. Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) can be reached at 717-264-6100 or Rep. Chad Reichard (R-Franklin) can be reached at 717-749-7384.
- Readers may reach out to the City of Hagerstown directly. McIntire can be reached at 301-766-4175 or [email protected] or City Administrator Scott Nicewarner at the same phone number as above or [email protected].
- Readers may reach out to the Washington County Commissioners at 240-313-2201 or [email protected].
