Electricity is another key area where the city offers unique services. Hagerstown owns its electric department, although it purchases power wholesale from Potomac Edison rather than generating its own. “Not all city residents have access to city lights due to a boundary created decades ago,” Nicewarner explains. However, the benefits are clear for those who are part of the city’s electric grid. “Our uptime and response time create a great amenity for those within the city that can access it,” he says. EXPANDING RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS As housing shortages become an increasingly pressing issue across the country, Hagerstown is tackling the challenge head-on with a wave of residential development projects.Thompson outlines the scope of the city’s ongoing residential projects, emphasizing a significant influx of investment in upper-floor housing. “We’re seeing about $190 million of new commercial and residential investment in downtown ,” she says, and this includes 182 units being either newly created or renovated downtown alone. Beyond downtown, residential development is happening on an even larger scale across the city. “Almost all available property within the corporate boundaries that are zoned for residential use is in some development phase,”Thompson explains.With roughly 2,000 units in the pipeline, either in the prospecting, planning, or construction stages, Hagerstown is set to experience a significant boost in housing availability. In addition,the city is working closely with Washington County to develop sites outside the corporate boundaries, further expanding the potential for new housing developments. This partnership with the county broadens the range of options available to developers, ensuring that the housing crunch can be alleviated not only within city limits but also in surrounding areas. HUB CITY BREWERY Hagerstown is a hub for arts, culture, and 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 10 HAGERSTOWN, MD
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