Downtown Erie is Making a Comeback.

Since 2017, the EDDC has been driving downtown Erie's transformation by attracting investment, restoring historic properties, and building the infrastructure for a thriving urban core.

WHO WE ARE

Built by Erie.
Invested in Erie.
For the long haul.

The Erie Downtown Development Corporation is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization formed in 2017 by a coalition of visionary business, philanthropic, and civic leaders who believed downtown Erie's best days were still ahead of it.

We don't just invest in buildings. We invest in the conditions that allow a city to thrive. That means attracting businesses and residents, restoring historic properties, creating public spaces worth gathering in, and building programming that makes downtown Erie a destination.

See for yourself the transformation of Downtown Erie.

12 Development projects completed or underway
8 Historic properties restored to active use
100K Sq ft of new commercial space created
2017 Year the EDDC was founded

HOW WE WORK

A nonprofit model
built for lasting impact.

01 Identify & Acquire We identify underutilized properties in downtown Erie's core, often historic buildings, and acquire them through philanthropic capital, New Market Tax Credits, and strategic partnerships.
02 Develop & Activate We redevelop properties into mixed-use spaces: ground-floor commercial, upper-floor residential, and community-facing spaces. We prioritize local and independent tenants who add character and economic resilience.
03 Sustain & Grow Revenue from our properties funds ongoing operations and future development, a self-sustaining model that means we're building an endowment for Erie's downtown, one project at a time.

The EDDC operates differently than a private developer. As a nonprofit, our returns aren't measured in quarterly profits. They're measured in jobs created, residents attracted, and tax base rebuilt. We take on the projects the market alone wouldn't tackle, with a 30-year horizon in mind.

This structure lets us pursue historic preservation, mixed-income housing, and community-serving tenants that a profit-first developer might pass on.

OUR PROJECTS

What our transformation
looks like.

Loading projects...

These aren't renderings collecting dust. Each project is either open, under construction, or in active development. This portfolio gives a real sense of what it looks like when a city decides to bet on itself.

AVAILABLE SPACE

Ready to be part of
what's happening
downtown?

Filter:
... spaces shown

Loading available spaces...

Unable to load listings right now. Please refresh or contact us directly.

No spaces currently available

Check back soon or contact us to be notified when new spaces open up.

Downtown Erie is open for business! The listings below include available commercial, retail, and office space across the district, both within the EDDC portfolio and beyond. We work with prospective tenants to find the right fit, regardless of who holds the lease. If you're looking for space in downtown Erie, this is your starting point.

OUR FOCUS AREA

Four pillars driving downtown Erie’s future.

Everything the EDDC does runs through these four core objectives. Together, they create the conditions for a self-sustaining downtown.

Develop Real Estate We develop commercial and residential real estate in downtown Erie's core, restoring historic buildings and creating new spaces that attract and retain residents and businesses.
Attract Investment We actively recruit businesses, residents, and outside capital, acting as the connective tissue between opportunity and the investors and entrepreneurs who can seize it.
Enhance Public Spaces Great downtowns have great public spaces. We invest in the parks, streetscapes, and gathering places that make downtown Erie a place people want to be, not just pass through.
Create Vibrancy Events, programming, and activation are the heartbeat of a downtown. Through Flagship City District and direct programming, we create reasons for people to come, stay, and return.

MEET THE TEAM

The people driving Erie’s downtown forward.

The EDDC is a small team with real roots in Erie and a long-term commitment to its future. We’re developers, communicators, community builders, and advocates united by a belief that downtown Erie is worth fighting for.

Loading team...

The EDDC team also includes dedicated facilities, maintenance, and operations staff who keep downtown Erie running every day.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Follow the progress
as it happens.

Loading videos...

Ryan takes you inside the projects, the conversations, and the decisions shaping downtown Erie's future. Construction tours, community leader interviews, and honest updates. Grab a hard hat, join Ryan, and get up-to-speed!