Harmony Tower, 322 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg
Harrisburg is taking further action to penalize the owner of a neglected downtown apartment building.
The city on Monday shared, in a press release, that it would increase the number of code citations it issues Harmony Tower, which they said has left some tenants without access to hot water.
The hot water issues began several months ago and has affected dozens of apartment units, including those that house elderly and medically compromised residents, said Mischelle Moyer, Harrisburg’s director of communications.
“This is outrageous,” said Mayor Wanda Williams, in a statement. “The City of Harrisburg will not tolerate this kind of blatant neglect, especially when it comes to the wellbeing of our senior citizens. No more delays. No more excuses.”
According to the city, officials have issued a handful of previous citations and warnings to the building’s owner, Texas-based Lynd Management. However, some tenants still don’t have reliable access to hot water, the city said.
Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter has directed the city’s codes department to begin issuing fines tomorrow for every apartment at Harmony Tower that does not have hot water, according to the city.
“There are senior citizens living in those apartments who cannot shower or even wash their hands. This is absolutely unacceptable after four months of waiting,” Carter said.
The city said that their codes enforcement team will be on-site at the apartment building throughout this week to check each unit for hot water in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room.
Harmony Tower is currently under receivership, with Brad Kyles as the appointed receiver.
Rich Kinney, Lynd’s regional manager based in Arkansas, has said that the company is awaiting approval of a $58,000 loan to complete repairs, Moyer stated.
A representative of Harmony Tower could not immediately be reached for comment.
“This community deserves better,” Williams said. “No resident of Harrisburg should be forced to live in conditions like this—not on our watch. The city will use every tool available to ensure that Lynd Management fulfills its legal and moral obligations to the people who live here.”
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