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Franklin County To Commence Demolition Of Former Administration Facility

Court Facilities Improvement Project

February 10, 2025

Contractors will begin the process of demolishing the Franklin County Administration Annex - more commonly known as "the old Sears building" - at 218 N. Second St., Chambersburg, on Feb. 17.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. –  Starting Feb. 17, crews will begin demolishing the Franklin County Administration Annex at 218 N. Second St., Chambersburg. 

The project will impact traffic flow and parking for anyone visiting the county’s neighboring Administration Building at 272 N. Second St. as follows:

  • Traffic will only enter from Grant Street. The Second Street entrance will be fenced off during the duration of the project.
  • Parking will only be available in the spaces directly in front of the Administration Building and in a small lot on the right side of the building. All other spaces close to and around the Administration Annex will be inaccessible.
  • The right of way located between the Administration Annex and the Falling Spring will remain open only to contractors and for the owners of the private lot adjacent to the county’s property.

Once the Annex is demolished, contractor David H. Martin Excavating will begin grading and paving the property to make way for a 212-space parking lot. Demolishing the Annex and adding adequate parking was a condition of erecting the Franklin County Administration Building and is the final component of the county’s multifaceted court facilities improvement project.

The Administration Annex was home to a Sears department store for nearly four decades, from March 1951 until February 1990. Beginning in 1995, the facility served as the home for several Franklin County departments, including, most recently, the county’s domestic relations office, the Franklin County District Attorney’s Office, Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance and Magisterial District Judge Glenn Manns.

The county anticipates the entire demolition and parking lot project will be completed by the end of April. The Franklin County Commissioners thank the public for their patience during this transition and look forward to continued service of Franklin County residents.