SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO An aerial view of the neighborhood slated for the “Old City” project from when Lycoming College’s new music building was under construction.

The City of Williamsport Old City Revitalization project east of Market Street is moving forward and a Washington, D.C. consulting firm is helping the city meet its planning and funding goals for it.

The project is moving ahead with the congressional support of U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, who was able to procure $2.2 million for four components: City street light modernization, Willow Street pedestrian improvements, Fourth Street utility improvements, and Basin Street riverwalk connector, according to a discussion with City Council getting an update from Keller Partners and Co., and Andrew Garfinkel, vice president and managing director of grants, loans and procurement at the company which has been the city consultant since 2021. Thomas Keller, managing principal at the company was on hand for the update.

“The first step in the process is to hire an architectural and engineering firm,” Garfinkel said. “We are in the process of preparing a request for proposals to develop the final plans for those four components,” he said. This project is developed in partnership with Lycoming College, which has invested about $22 million to date. There has been a total of $57 million invested in Old City revitalization.

The Old City is named that because it was the first section of Williamsport settled by community founder Michael Ross in the late 1700s. It grew and became a borough that was incorporated as a city in 1866.