Is new life coming to the former Autoport site? State College property listed for lease

Halie Kines
·2 min read

The site of the former Autoport hotel is for lease, although future plans for the area are still up in the air.

The site, 1405 S. Atherton St., was recently listed for lease, Kandy Weader, senior commercial associate at Bennett Williams Commercial said in an email Monday morning. But what development may follow depends on the tenants’ interest.

“As we attract tenants, we will tailor our plans to meet their needs,” Weader wrote, adding that more details would be posted on her social media in the future.

The listing online states the space available ranges from 0.5 to 4.25 acres for a “new, high-end retail development” along the busy South Atherton street. It states a hotel/multi-family pad and in-line as a property highlight. There isn’t a firm lease rate listed, rather it says it is “negotiable.”

Opening in 1936, The Autoport was the oldest motel in Pennsylvania until it closed in December 2015. The business’s former owners declared bankruptcy earlier that year and sold the property for $2.1 million.

The former Autoport is located at 1405 S. Atherton St. in State College. The Autoport in State College opened in 1936 and closed in December 2015.
The former Autoport is located at 1405 S. Atherton St. in State College. The Autoport in State College opened in 1936 and closed in December 2015.

In January 2020, plans for a new 122-room Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel were submitted to the State College borough. The proposed hotel would include eight apartment units, with one restricted based on income to meet the borough’s inclusionary housing ordinance. Construction would involve demolishing three buildings, and the hotel was expected to employ about 25 people.

But in the years since, there’s been little to no activity on the site until last month when trees were removed. At the time, the borough said they hadn’t received any documents indicating construction of a new hotel would begin. It was also unclear why the trees were removed.

Trees were cut down on the former Autoport property along South Atherton Street on Friday, May 17, 2024.
Trees were cut down on the former Autoport property along South Atherton Street on Friday, May 17, 2024.

Ed LeClear, director of planning and community development for State College borough, said Monday they have not received any land development plans for the property, other than what was submitted over three years ago. The owners of the site did not immediately respond to a message Monday.

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