A crowd of construction partners, Landis Quality Living board members, donors and newly signed tenants recently enjoyed a morning at Landis Place to participate in a topping-out gathering. Topping out is a builders' tradition that celebrates a milestone during a construction project.

High Construction project superintendent Jim Kline noted the tradition goes back as far as the 700s, when builders in Scandinavian regions would place a sheath of grain on top of the building for good luck.

During the ceremony held on Aug. 2, all those in attendance signed a steel beam that was then lifted by a construction crane and set in place in the northwest corner of the building, becoming the first of the roof beams to be set. A prayer of thanks and gratitude was offered by the Rev. Elizabeth Soto.

The building will contain apartments aimed at the middle market as well as for those with less than the area median income. Landis Quality Living is in the process of raising at least $550,000 to bring down the amount needing to be financed, making it possible for at least eight of the apartments to be available at lower-cost rents. If more funds are raised, the number of low-cost apartments will increase.

When finished, Landis Place on King will bring 79 apartments and ground-floor retail space to 239 W. King St., Lancaser. The opening is set for March of 2023 and already has renters for about 30% of the apartments, even without having a model to show.

For more information on Landis Place on King, visit http://www.landisplace.org.