[2] The area of Third street near Verbeke is known as the Historic Midtown Market District and is home to many unique boutiques, galleries and shops.

However, as the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex grew, better access from the West Shore became necessary to accommodate increasing commuter traffic.

In 1950, the M. Harvey Taylor Bridge was built, and Forster Street was expanded into a six-lane thoroughfare, physically dividing the once unified neighborhood.

This division created a clear separation, both physically and psychologically, between Midtown and the area south of Forster Street.

As one of Harrisburg's earliest subdivided neighborhoods with substantial building stock, it represents a significant example of late 19th-century urban America.