PCA&D abandons Chameleon Club revival, lists building for $1.3M after costly delays
The Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D) has put the former Chameleon Club property in Lancaster city up for sale. The 31,400-square-foot building, once a popular music venue, is now listed for $1.3 million after renovation costs spiralled beyond expectations. The college initially had ambitious plans for the space but has since changed direction.
PCA&D bought the property at 223 N. Water St. in December 2021 for $900,000. The building, which also has an entrance on 224 N. Prince St., was once home to the Chameleon Club, a well-known live music venue. After the purchase, the college spent $300,000 on demolition in 2022.
Former president Michael Molla intended to use the space for classes starting in August 2024. However, he resigned in April 2024, leaving the project in limbo. His successor, Andy Barnes, had different ideas—planning to turn the first floor into retail space and the upper floors into studios for a creative industry accelerator programme.
Renovation bids for the building soon exceeded $6 million, forcing PCA&D to reconsider. The college has now decided to sell the property instead. A $400,000 grant from the High Foundation, originally meant for this project, will now fund two other initiatives: renovating the CoLab and improving the college's property at 241 N. Prince St.
PCA&D currently has over 350 undergraduate students. The shift in plans means the building will no longer serve as an educational facility under the college's ownership.
The sale marks the end of PCA&D's short-lived ownership of the former Chameleon Club. The property, once set for redevelopment, will now return to the market at a higher price than its original purchase. The college's focus has moved to other projects, leaving the future of the building uncertain.
