Allium’s projects typically fit into one of three themes: place-making, place-based, and quality of life. Often clients come to Allium with an idea of a desired outcome and are seeking clarity on how to get from here to there. The following project snapshots show our work in action.
OUR PROJECTS
PLACE-MAKING
What makes a place memorable, unique, or special? Why do we feel more comfortable and why are we drawn to be in some spaces more than in others? Place-making is intentionally and strategically combining the needs of the community with the highest and best uses for physical spaces. Learn more about a few of Allium’s projects that have transformed physical spaces.
SOUTHERN MARKET
Southern Market was quickly falling into disrepair. As a 40,000 square foot historic landmark, local economic and community development organizations were eager to see the building returned to its “highest and best use”, while also complimenting the needs of the surround neighborhood. From market research, redevelopment feasibility, and RFP writing, to operational planning and partnership management, Ms. Keeler helped guide the project from idea to the start of construction. Through a unique partnership between Lancaster Equity CDC and Willow Valley Communities, the project was funded and brought to life. Opened in 2021, Southern Market is a multi-ethnic food hall, coworking space, and community center.
FRANKLIN STREET SOCIAL
Franklin Street Social transformed a long-vacant furniture factory into York County’s first food hall—revitalizing a key building, anchoring Red Lion’s Main Street, and serving as a catalyst for local economic development. With thirteen vendors, a central bar, a kids’ play area, and regular community events, it offers a dynamic space for food and connection. Allium Development Group supported the project from concept through launch, project ideation, leading financial modeling, SOP development, and management onboarding to bring this ambitious vision to life. The result is a lively, inclusive destination that blends historic character with modern, family-friendly energy.
MILTON 66
The Phillips 66 station, lovingly known in the Town of Milton, as the Milton 66, had been vacant for well-over a decade. While not a contributing structure to the town’s historic district, the wide lot created a barrier between the historic Commercial Row and the rest of the town. The property needed to be brought to its highest and best use while serving as a physical and metaphoric point of connection for the community. However, with a seasonal economy, the business needed to be multifaceted enough to withstand off season. Allium supported projection ideation, construction management, financial modeling, SOP development, and management onboarding. Today the Milton 66 Beer Garden offers great local craft beers and seasonal plants. The space frequently hosts local events and offers another anchor that is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
THE JONES HOUSE
The Jones House was months away from collapse. The once prominent Greek Revival had suffered years of neglect, including a decades long leak in the roof. The house is important to the surrounding community as it is prominently featured on its small town’s main thoroughfare and contains woodwork by Thomas Day. To save the structure, Allium utilized state and federal historic tax credit programs, financial modeling, and construction management. As a tax credit project, the end result needed to be a business and also needed to hold true to the function and character of the structure. Today, the Jones House operates as an AirBNB. The project was a recipient of Preservation North Carolina’s 2022 Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit.
CULTIVATE LANCASTER
Organizations that support small businesses in Lancaster, Pennsylvania were eager to collaborate, but a shared platform and strategy for coordination did not exist. In 2017, Ms. Keeler conducted a comprehensive asset mapping and ecosystem analysis of the county’s entrepreneurial support landscape. This work laid the foundation for a county-wide cross-organizational collaboration strategy, aimed at improving alignment and accessibility of resources. In 2022, Allium was engaged to help the initiative—now called Cultivate Lancaster—enter its next phase through strategic planning, formalizing its governance structure, and developing a project pro forma to support long-term sustainability. Today, Cultivate is expanding its brand, services, and reach to better serve entrepreneurs across Lancaster County.
In a world where endless global connections are possible, local solutions still matter. Place-based initiatives are created to address the complex needs of a specific geographical place through leveraging resources and developing creative partnerships.
PLACE-BASED
AGE-FRIENDLY LANCASTER CITY
The City of Lancaster is committed to becoming more inclusive for residents of all ages but needed a clear roadmap and collaborative framework to guide its efforts. Allium Development Group guided the creation of the 2026-2028 Age-Friendly Lancaster City Action Plan. Taking a lead from the World Health Organization’s eight domain’s of livability, the comprehensive action planning process engaged organizational leaders and community members to identify goals, strategies, and activities to move the needle forward. The action plan is on target to be officially adopted by the City in the fall of 2025 and to be implemented through a coordinated, community-led approach.
ELEVATE BERKS
Organizations that support small businesses in Berks County were ready to collaborate, but a shared platform and strategy for coordination did not exist. The Berks Alliance and the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance partnered with ten other organizations and engaged Allium to lead a comprehensive asset mapping and ecosystem analysis of the county’s startup landscape. This work incorporated both quantitative and qualitative research to identify service gaps, overlaps, and opportunities. The resulting insights informed a county-wide strategic plan and the development of a cross-organizational collaboration strategy aimed at building a more robust and connected small business startup environment in Berks County called Elevate Berks.
QUALITY OF LIFE
What are the big and small ways that a community or group of people’s quality of life can be improved? Listening and learning from set populations is the foundation for identifying achievable steps to improving quality of life. Learn more about Allium’s projects that have worked to increase the quality of life within specific communities.
LANDIS QUALITY LIVING
Landis Communities is looking to the future. What are the needs and desires of the next generation of retirees? Landis engaged Allium to delve into this question and provide them with critical and localized feedback on how the answers to this question shape the physical development of future continuous care retirement communities. As part of this work, Allium collected and analyzed qualitative data. Target population: Next generation of retirees in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
LANCASTER CITY ALLIANCE
Local leaders want to maintain a vibrant downtown Lancaster, but startup retailers and restaurants are facing new and recurrent barriers to entry. The Lancaster City Alliance is exploring whether a dedicated incubation space could help reduce those barriers and strengthen the city’s retail core. Allium Development Group was engaged to lead a market study focused on the space requirements and business support needs of early-stage retail and restaurant businesses. Target population: startup and micro retail and restaurant businesses in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania.
PENN MEDICINE
Local healthcare professionals want to ensure the best care for local populations, but sometimes there are gaps in services and in perceptions. Penn Medicine wants to close those gaps and improve healthcare outcomes for residents in Lancaster County by partnering with community organizations to understand the community’s health needs. Penn Medicine engaged Allium to support this work through qualitative data collection and analysis. Target population: African American males, 40+ years old in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
“I thought we would spend most of the session being talked at and only have a few minutes to participate. Instead we spent most of the session sharing ideas and coming up with solutions.”
— Age-Friendly Lancaster City Action Plan Session Participant