Authorities Hire New Executive Director

Upon the recommendation of the search committee, the hiring of Matthew T. Sternberg as Executive Director of the Lancaster County Housing and Redevelopment Authorities was approved by the Boards of Directors of both entities, and he assumed the position on July 10, 2006.

 A native of Aberdeen, Maryland, Sternberg brings 25 years of experience in municipal development, economic development, regional planning, business brokerage and non-profit arts management to his new post.

 Most recently, he served as Executive Director of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority in Rutland, Vermont for 16 years.  When he took on that job, the Rutland organization was the first redevelopment authority in the state of Vermont. 

 When asked what project he was proudest of during his tenure there, Sternberg pointed to “having gotten the downtown program running in a stable, administrative format.  The renovation of the Paramount Theatre [an 850-seat live theater venue located in downtown Rutland that had fallen into disrepair] was a catalyst for a lot of other things happening. . .In terms of direct economic impact, the redevelopment of the Rutland Shopping Center, . . .(which included) at the time, the largest supermarket in downtown Rutland.” 

This 220,000 square foot strip shopping center, which cost $15 million to renovate, also brought a nine-screen cinema complex, a Wal-Mart and a new public park to the heart of the downtown commercial area.

 Sternberg also served as project manager for the $80 million Rutland Railyard Relocation Project while heading up the Authority in Rutland.  This project was chosen as one of six case studies featured in a Federal Highway Administration journal on best practices in the Transportation and Community and System Preservation Program in June of 2004.

 As for similarities between Rutland and Lancaster, he notes, “First, they’re both dealing with the same sort of structural economic issues that most older cities are dealing with - repositioning the urban core and balancing that with the growth of the outlying communities. “

 “Both of them have long traditions as working communities, blue collar.  Rutland had a very similar industrial background, where people tended to stay in one place. . .Both are blue collar working towns, which is a tremendous advantage.  That’s where real people live and take care of their communities.”

Sternberg and his wife Libby Malin Sternberg, the Director of Marketing at the PA Academy of Music, have been enjoying getting to know Lancaster, although he admits to missing the mountains of Vermont and the earlier fall weather.  He claimed he wouldn’t miss “the general business climate in Vermont. . .(It’s) growth versus no-growth pushed to the extreme, (and you) constantly butt against that attitude as an economic developer.”

 “Lancaster feels like it has all sorts of opportunity and things to do, (especially) having come from a smaller community.  I like some of the dynamics that are growing in the (Lancaster) community,” he added.

 Collaboration has been  a key factor in solving problems or bringing projects to fruition in the past for him:

 “We have to maximize what we have and come to the table with other parties that are out there with other resources. . .and team-up.”

 As to what drives him to work in the redevelopment/community development field, Sternberg answered, “I enjoy it.  It’s interesting work that delivers tangible results to the community.  There’s a design element to it.  It’s varied, very pertinent and contributes a lot to the welfare of the broader community.”

 We welcome Matthew Sternberg and his wife to Lancaster and look forward to the two of them using their talents and enthusiasm to contribute quite a bit to both the economic and artistic health and welfare of our community.