Two competing redevelopment proposals aim to restore William Penn High School as vocational, arts and mixed‑use campus

Two teams offered plans for restoring William Penn High School and reusing the campus during a William Penn Task Force meeting on Dec. 17 in Harrisburg.

Brett Peters, presenting for the Pennsylvania Social Equity Investment Fund, described a phased renovation that would begin with the rear “shop” wing to house Tri‑County OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Centers) vocational programs and build out classroom space and maker labs. Peters said the back wing’s shop work and equipment are estimated at about $20,000,000 and that a full, furnished restoration of the entire building is estimated at about $70,000,000. "We can actually get the rental rates that we get using 100% debt," Peters said, describing a financing scenario based on a USDA community facilities loan.

Christina Johnson, executive director of Tri‑County OIC, said OIC provides workforce and reentry programs, serving about 750 adults and young adults with courses that include GED/HiSET, forklift training, nursing assistance and a recently completed solar installation course. "We empower individuals and we transform communities," Johnson said. She described OIC’s intention to run day‑time and evening programming on a single consolidated campus rather than at multiple offsite…