Author Archives: Maddie Conley

Apothecary inspired bar with Sunday tea service to open downtown, marking fifth business for Lovedrafts owner

March 26, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Future location of Madame Rochéle’s Apothecary.

A new Harrisburg cocktail bar will lean into an earthy, herbal vibe for its spring opening.

Justin Browning, owner of JB Lovedrafts, plans to open Madame Rochéle’s Apothecary at N. 2^nd and Locust streets downtown, he told TheBurg.

“We are combining a few bar concepts into one space- apothecary, the fern bar and tea house,” he said. “We’re leaning towards a comfortable, warm setting with lots of greenery.”

The apothecary will open in the former Tacos Amigos restaurant, which closed last year. Browning is now leasing the space.

The apothecary will be Browning’s fifth business on 2^nd Street. In addition to Lovedrafts, he owns Nocturnal, Sawyers, and Capital City Music Hall, which most recently opened.

Browning described Madame Rochéle’s Apothecary as a cocktail-focused lounge, also with non-alcoholic drinks, small plates and charcuterie. On Sundays, the bar will turn into a tea house with baked goods from neighboring business Anna Rose Bakery.

Creating new immersive settings “scratches a creative itch” for Browning, he said. The apothecary idea was inspired by fantasy books, games and films that Browning and his staff enjoy.

“An Apothecary was a historical health professional that would create and dispense ‘medicines’ through the use of herbs, tonics, tinctures, potions and so on. Very much like a modern mixologist does today,” Browning said.

Décor will feature live plants, sofas and Victorian-inspired pieces.

Browning is aiming for an early May soft opening, with a grand opening planned for Mother’s Day weekend.

“I hope it will have the same positive effect that our other bars and restaurants have had by providing a space to unwind, relax and to be entertained,” he said.

For more information, follow Madame Rochéle’s Apothecary on Facebook.

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Dilapidated Harrisburg development still “fragile,” but “stabilized” as receiver works on revitalization plan

March 25, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Justin Heinly, owner of Midtown Asset Consulting, during a City Council meeting Tuesday.

Things finally seem to be looking up for residents of a Harrisburg housing development that in recent years became dilapidated, condemned and bankrupt.

At a City Council meeting on Tuesday night, Justin Heinly of Midtown Asset Consulting shared that, while conditions are still “fragile” at the Residences at Governor’s Square, the situation has “stabilized.”

Heinly was named the court-appointed receiver by a Dauphin County judge last year, tasked with taking control of the 218-unit affordable housing development around N. 5^th and Maclay streets.

Governor’s Square owners Uptown Partners filed for bankruptcy in 2023, following years of resident complaints about quality-of-life and safety issues, with the property subject to hundreds of city-issued condemnations and citations. After failing to find a buyer for the development, the owners petitioned for a receiver to take over.

“The thing that really motivates me is the impact we have on the city,” Heinly told TheBurg of his decision to accept the position.

Since his appointment in August 2025, Heinly said that his team has worked to stabilize the properties and create a plan for the future of the development.

To date, Heinly said that his team has boarded up 157 units, making sure squatters were removed, which he said has already decreased crime in the area. One of his staff members also does daily rounds of the property.

“We’ve seen a dramatic drop off in the amount of unwanted activity up there,” he told council.

Some units of the Residences at Governor’s Square on Maclay Street

Heinly has also restored eight formerly uninhabitable units and plans to bring another eight back online by Memorial Day. He also noted that he has met with every Governor’s Square tenant and has worked to address their concerns. When asked by council about rent payments, Heinly said that he has forgiven back due rent for tenants who agreed to begin paying moving forward.

Currently, Heinly said that only 23% of the units are occupied. Many of those that are occupied fall on the south side of Maclay Street, units that Heinly said were in much better shape than the north side of Maclay. About 35 of the 75 south of Maclay are occupied, while only 15 of the 134 north of Maclay are occupied.

Heinly said that, in the short-term, the focus will be on restoring the southern units, which are much more feasible and may be completed by 2031. The future of the northern units, many of which were destroyed by squatters and damaged by fires, is still up in the air and dependent on funding resources.

Financially, things have improved a bit. Before, Governor’s Square operated at a substantial deficit, but now is cash-flow neutral. Heinly said that the cash flow will again be at a deficit for about a year while his team makes capital improvements that should pay off after their completion.

Still, Governor’s Square owes $16 million in liabilities to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Harrisburg and Capital Region Water. And Heinly will need to make up a large funding gap to continue redevelopment, which he hopes to fill with grant funds.

Heinly also has access to a $250,000 loan from Harrisburg, which he has not yet tapped into.

Heinly said that, so far, his team has largely been assessing the situation at Governor’s Square and securing the property. The next stage would be to meet with stakeholders, work on future planning and develop a receivership exit strategy. After that, Governor’s Square could be sold or other options considered. Heinly estimates that a full renovation of Governor’s Square would cost $27 to 28 million.

However, Heinly expects the property to be in receivership for several years to come.

He also plans to hire new management. The current HUD-approved property manager, Landex Management, a subsidiary of Winn Residential, “freely admitted” to Heinly that they “had little motivation or direction to care for” Governor’s Square, Heinly said in a March report. Heinly added that residents reported a “serious distrust” of the company, so he hired his own temporary employees.

During the council meeting, a Governor’s Square tenant expressed satisfaction with Heinly’s team and their work.

“Justin, his crew, I love everybody,” she said. “I had a water leak in my kitchen for over a year and a half. Justin fixed it. I called one day, not even 24 hours later, it was fixed.”

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Harrisburg shares update on Broad Street Market construction, finances

March 18, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Broad Street Market brick building

The Broad Street Market rebuild continues to slowly progress as Harrisburg stabilizes the shell of the fire-burned brick building.

Harrisburg this week shared an update on construction at the market, which began in September, saying that the project has taken “significant steps forward.”

The city noted that they have “engineer-stamped” grouting and shoring plans that will stabilize the soil and existing building walls to prep for pouring an interior footer and building new walls. Additionally, crews began building a new chiller structure yesterday that will contain the market’s cooling systems. The chiller will be located near the market, next to Millworks.

Rendering provided by the city of Harrisburg.

Also on site, masonry crews are repointing brick walls, electrical crews are installing electrical for lighting and the chiller, and carpenters are framing windows and reinforcing the roof overhang. Contractors are also removing concrete sidewalk on the south side of the market to replace dysfunctional infrastructure.

“These milestones represent meaningful progress and give us a clear and reliable roadmap for moving construction forward,” said Mayor Wanda Williams, in a statement. “We are committed to rebuilding the Broad Street Market with the strength, care, and longevity this historic space deserves.”

Also this week, the city announced that the courtyard between the two market buildings was closed and would remain fenced off for the rest of the project. The courtyard surface and stone benches had been demolished.

Rendering provided by the city of Harrisburg.

At a February Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) meeting, city Accounting Manager Brian McCutcheon shared that the estimated market rebuild cost totaled $20.8 million. He also provided updated financial information and projections.

As of that meeting, Harrisburg had received $4.9 million from insurance, with $1 million of that allocated to the temporary tent. Another $1.3 came from the Host Municipalities Fee fund and the Capital Projects fund. Another $1.3 in accumulated interest came from the State Grants fund. To fill the large funding gap, Harrisburg in September moved $14.4 million into its general fund, with the hope that not all of that would need to be used, as more insurance money is expected.

McCutcheon has estimated that Harrisburg will get closer to $11.7 million from insurance when it’s all said and done, and another several million from federal CDBG funds. That would bring the amount coming from the general fund closer to $4 million, he estimated.

Initially, the market rebuild was projected to take 18 to 20 months. The city said that it could not share any updates on the timeline as it is dependent on current work. Within the next month, they should have an update, the city said.

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Harrisburg to pay thousands to former public works director who claimed to be unfairly fired

March 17, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Nate Spriggs during a city press conference announcing him as the new public works director in 2021.

Harrisburg has agreed to pay former Public Works director Nate Spriggs $150,000 to settle a civil rights case in which he accused Mayor Wanda Williams of unfairly firing him.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg federal court judge Jennifer Wilson filed an order dismissing Spriggs’ case against Williams, saying that the parties agreed to settle. City Solicitor Neil Grover told TheBurg Tuesday evening that the settlement amount, which wasn’t made public by the court, would cost Harrisburg $150,000.

The settlement includes no admission of liability, Grover stated.

The settlement came just a month before trial proceedings were set to begin on April 20. On Monday, the parties attended a settlement conference.

Spriggs’ 2022 lawsuit alleged that Williams fired him for refusing to promote her son Dion Dockens, among other allegations.

In a statement issued earlier this evening, Williams said that while she was prepared to take the case to trial, the city’s insurance carrier advised that settlement was the fiscally responsible route to “protect taxpayer resources.”

According to the judge’s order, the parties must act on the settlement within 60 days or either party may file a notice to reinstate the suit.

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Case dismissed as Harrisburg mayor and former public works director agree to settle employment dispute

March 17, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Sylvia H. Rambo U.S. Courthouse

Just one month before a scheduled trial, a former public works director agreed to settle with Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams after accusing her of unfairly firing him.

On Tuesday, Harrisburg federal court judge Jennifer Wilson filed an order dismissing the civil rights case. According to the document, the parties have agreed to resolve the case by settlement.

The update comes after a Monday settlement conference.

In 2022, Nate Spriggs, a former public works director, sued Williams, saying that she fired him for refusing to promote her son Dion Dockens, among other allegations.

Nate Spriggs during a city press conference announcing him as the new public works director in 2021.

The trial process was set to begin April 20.

In a statement on Tuesday, Williams said that she was prepared to take the case to trial and defend her actions, but was advised by the city’s insurance carrier that settlement was the “most fiscally responsible” course of action.

“While I stood ready to present the facts in a courtroom, I respect the guidance provided to protect taxpayer resources,” Williams said. “At the end of the day, my responsibility is to the residents of Harrisburg, and that includes making prudent financial decisions.”

According to the judge’s order, the parties must act on the settlement within 60 days or either party may file a notice to reinstate the suit.

Williams’ attorney, West Chester-based David MacMain, declined to comment on the settlement at this time. Spriggs’s attorney Marc Weinstein could not immediately be reached.

The terms of the settlement were not made public.

“I am glad to have this matter behind us so we can remain focused on the work that
truly matters—strengthening our neighborhoods, supporting our residents, and
continuing the progress we have made across Harrisburg,” Williams said. “Our
administration will not be sidetracked by matters that take attention away from serving
the people of this city.”

TheBurg will update this story when more information is available.

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State presents Harrisburg organizations with funds to kickstart downtown revitalization

March 17, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

State Sen. Patty Kim, along with city, state and local officials, shared updates on downtown revitalization efforts on Tuesday.

Plans to revitalize downtown Harrisburg got a boost of funding from the state on Tuesday.

Pennsylvania lawmakers announced two state grants to support downtown safety and improvement planning, at a press conference in Strawberry Square.

The Capital Region Economic Development Corporation (CREDC) was awarded $350,000 to begin early implementation improvement projects, one of the first steps in its planning process. Additionally, the state gave $75,000 to the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (DID) to extend its safety measures during evenings and weekends downtown.

“This type of investment, this type of planning is really, really important,” said Deputy Secretary of the state Department of Community and Economic Development Rick Vilello. “The governor isn’t the most patient person. So, we have to start delivering quickly and get stuff done.”

Currently, the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC, along with other stakeholders and the city, are working with Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) to develop a plan to address downtown, which has struggled post-COVID.

Ryan Unger, president of the chamber, said that the chamber is currently finishing up a public survey process, interviewing stakeholders, conducting focus groups and will soon be hosting community forums. All of the data collected will inform PDC’s plan for downtown, he said.

The $350,000 from the state will help kickstart initial projects, like surveying N. 2^nd Street for eventual streetscape upgrades or paying for estimates for office-to-residential conversions.

The money will serve as an “accelerant,” Unger said, that will help planning get done quicker and more efficiently.

The chamber also previously received $50,000 from the Harrisburg Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) for bringing the PDC on board.

“These investments build on the collective momentum and consensus we have been building over the last few months,” said state Sen. Patty Kim.

(From left) Rep. Dave Madsen (D-104), DID Director Todd Vander Woude and Sen. Patty Kim.

Additionally, the $75,000 given to the DID will help cover the costs for police presence downtown, allowing them to extend from four hours of evening coverage to five, said DID Executive Director Todd Vander Woude. DID pays off-duty police for a walking detail downtown to focus on a “community policing effort,” he said.

“The purpose of this is really a police presence and visibility for downtown Harrisburg,” he said. “These officers will walk around, do business checks, answer any questions from customers, visitors, residents.”

Unger said that he believes there will be opportunities to partner with the state in future planning phases, as the governor has expressed support for revitalization.

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Broad Street Market courtyard closes during construction; surrounding streets stay closed

March 16, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Fences surround the Broad Street Market courtyard.

Harrisburg has closed the Broad Street Market courtyard and will keep several roads around the market blocked off as construction continues.

The city shared the news on social media on Monday, as part of the ongoing work to restore the fire-damaged brick building of the market.

The courtyard between the stone and brick buildings will be closed for the duration of the project due to safety concerns, the city stated. Construction on the brick building began in September 2025 and was projected to take 18-20 months.

The city has removed the courtyard pavers and benches.

Additionally, the city will keep the southern part of Verbeke Street, from Capital Street to N. 6^th Street, closed for the duration of the project, as well as the small portion of Fulton Street, between the two sections of Verbeke Street.

According to the city, there will also be short-term closures on the northern part of Verbeke Street for utility work. The city will update the street closure map at least 72 hours before scheduled closures.

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Harrisburg council moves to withdraw contempt motion against mayor, following Tuesday meeting

March 11, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County Courthouse

Harrisburg City Council has withdrawn a motion attempting to hold Mayor Wanda Williams in contempt of court.

On Wednesday, council made a motion to withdraw the contempt motion, following a Tuesday meeting where council confirmed a city director in her role, previously claiming Williams was in violation of the law for not allowing council to vote on the staffer.

At Tuesday’s legislative session, council voted 4-3 to keep Gloria Martin-Roberts, director of building and housing development, in her role. Council filed the contempt motion against Williams last week, saying that Williams had kept Martin-Roberts on staff since 2024 in an “interim” role, without council approval.

Council and the mayor had recently come to a legal agreement that included ending the practice of appointing “interim” directors instead of “acting” department heads to circumvent council’s approval. The mayor is required to bring “acting” directors to council for approval within 120 days.

The legal agreement followed a lawsuit by Williams against council, claiming the body acting outside of its power by defunding several top roles in the 2026 budget.

Although council President Danielle Hill and Vice President Lamont Jones opposed keeping Martin-Roberts on staff, voicing their frustration Tuesday, other council members decided to keep her on.

Council member Ausha Green told TheBurg that she agreed that Williams should have brought Martin-Roberts before council for approval, but said that ousting Martin-Roberts would be punishing the wrong person.

Since Martin-Roberts has now officially received council approval, she will take on a permanent department head role.

Therefore, council asked Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Engle to withdraw its contempt motion or consider it moot.

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Harrisburg council keeps housing director on staff, following legal attempt to force vote

March 10, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Director of Building and Housing Development Gloria Martin-Roberts appeared before City Council at a legislative session Tuesday.

Harrisburg’s director of building and housing development will remain in her position, following an attempt by City Council to get her in front of them for a vote.

In a 4-3 vote on Tuesday, council approved Gloria Martin-Roberts as director of the department, following a legal motion on Friday to hold Mayor Wanda Williams in contempt of court for not bringing Martin-Roberts to council for approval.

On March 6, council filed a motion accusing Williams of not adhering to a legal agreement that the two legislative bodies came to in February. The agreement seemingly closed a legal battle that began with a lawsuit by Williams alleging that council acted outside its power by defunding several top city positions as part of the 2026 budget.

While Judge Jeffrey Engle sided with council earlier that month, shortly after, council and Williams agreed that council would re-fund several positions. Also in the stipulation, Williams agreed to get council approval for every department head hired in the city within 120 days of their appointment, a requirement that she and previous mayors had occasionally circumvented by giving directors “interim” titles.

Council also sought to eliminate the practice on Tuesday by voting to amend city code to take away directors’ salaries if they remain in a position without council’s approval past 120 days.

Council alleged that Williams had not held to the legal agreement by keeping Martin-Roberts on staff in an interim role since 2024 without council approval.

At Tuesday’s legislative meeting, council finally voted on Martin-Roberts’ position, narrowly voting in her favor. Council President Danielle Hill, Vice President Lamont Jones and council member Jocelyn Rawls voted against confirming her appointment.

Council member Ausha Green told TheBurg that she voted to approve Martin-Roberts because she felt that the position becoming vacant would be a detriment to the city. She also said that council would be punishing the wrong person over their dissatisfaction with Williams for not bringing her up for a vote.

“No one said, ‘I’m voting against her because she can’t do the job,’” Green said. “I didn’t feel like it was fair to punish the employee because of what her supervisor did.”

Williams nor Hill was sure what the vote meant for the standing contempt motion against Williams. Williams said that she was meeting with her attorney on Wednesday to discuss.

According to Williams, she did not bring Martin-Roberts to council for a vote following her agreement with council because she believed she was “grandfathered” into her position and that the new requirements didn’t apply to her.

Hill called Williams’ decision to not bring Martin-Roberts to council for approval “unacceptable.” She also disagreed with Green’s statement that, had council not approved Martin-Roberts, they’d be punishing the wrong person. Hill said that Martin-Roberts has expressed interest in city positions before, and said that she believes Martin-Roberts has “served her time,” but that there are “younger generations of leaders in this city” ready to take leadership positions.

“It’s a violation of the law—645 days, 21 months and 92 weeks in an interim director role,” Hill said. “Nobody can answer my question as to why it took a motion for contempt for Miss Gloria Martin-Roberts to come before council for a vote.”

Williams said that, when she hired Martin-Roberts, it was meant to be a temporary position and said that no one was applying for the role. She said that she believes several council members’ issues with her are “personal.”

During the council meeting, members questioned Martin-Roberts about her qualifications and accomplishments in the department.

When asked what her greatest accomplishment was, Martin-Roberts said she was proud of maintaining Harrisburg’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding and working to get more in the future.

Hill questioned if that was a “baseline function” of the role and remarked, “Isn’t it an indictment on your nearly two-year tenure in the role that your biggest accomplishment is maintaining federal funds that you haven’t spent?”

Council member Crystal Davis praised Martin-Roberts for the work she has done. Council member Ralph Rodriguez asked questions about how federal funding and the department’s work would be affected if the position became vacant.

When council voted in favor of Martin-Roberts, a large section of the room cheered, including Williams. However, Williams said that any possible future reconciiation with council would take a “healing process.”

Hill said that she was disappointed that people were “rubber-stamping” the mayor for allegedly violating the law.

In other news, council approved a new ordinance that would have the city install trash cans outside of corner stores and bodegas. The ordinance would also require the store owners to keep them up, but the city would regularly empty them.

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Harrisburg mayor, council to go back to court over mayor’s alleged contempt of agreement

March 9, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County courthouse

Harrisburg’s mayor and City Council are slated to head back to court, putting a recent legal battle back on the table.

The Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas on Monday set a March 20 court date for Mayor Wanda Williams and council to appear in regard to a recent complaint by council alleging that Williams is in contempt of court.

While Judge Jeffrey Engle sided with council earlier that month, shortly after, council and Williams agreed that council would re-fund several positions. Also in the stipulation, Williams agreed to get council approval for every department head hired in the city, a requirement that she and previous mayors had occasionally circumvented by giving directors “interim” titles.

However, in council’s recent contempt filing, they claim that Williams has not held up her side of the deal and has kept a director on staff without council approval.

Gloria Martin-Roberts, director of Harrisburg’s Department of Building and Housing Development, has served as an “interim” director since mid-2024, well past the 120 days in which directors can serve without council consent.

Council said that Martin-Roberts still remains in her position.

In council’s filing, it says that Williams told council that she would not bring Martin-Roberts before council for a vote, instead saying that she believed Martin-Roberts was “grandfathered” into her position.

Council’s attorney Casey Coyle said, in a letter to Williams’ council, that “grandfathering in” positions was not within the stipulation.

Council requested that, as a penalty, Williams be fined $1,000 every day that she is in non-compliance, paid out of her own pocket, with potential jail time if she does not comply within a 30-day period. Council also asked that Williams reimburse the city for her attorney fees as part of the ongoing litigation.

In a press release on Sunday, city Communications Director Mischelle Moyer said that the city was “surprised and disappointed” by the filing. Moyer said that council and Williams had several constructive conversations recently, during which she said that she would bring Martin-Roberts before council for a vote.

Moyer said that council members and Williams met last Monday and were scheduled to meet last Friday, but did not because the contempt motion was filed before the scheduled meeting.

“The residents of Harrisburg deserve a government that works together to solve problems,” said Williams, in a statement. “I have been clear that I am prepared to bring this position before City Council for a vote so that the matter can be addressed transparently and through the proper legislative process. Litigation should never replace communication when we have the ability to sit down and work through our differences.”

In Monday’s court order, Judge Engle said that Williams has 30 days to file her response to council’s motion and that an evidentiary hearing will take place March 20 at 1:30 p.m.

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