Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground
Developers have begun work on a new affordable housing project in Harrisburg.
Former NFL player LeSean McCoy and his development company, Vice Capital, ceremonially broke ground last month on JMB Gardens, which will provide low-income housing on N. 6th Street.
“It’s a celebration for our community,” said McCoy, a Harrisburg native. “We are here to be the difference and make a change.”
JMB Gardens will consist of four rowhome-style buildings built on several currently vacant plots of land on the 2200- and 2300-blocks of N. 6th Street. In total, the project will provide 41 affordable units, consisting of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as a community center.
The entire project cost is around $16.7 million, including funding from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).
Construction on JMB Gardens is expected to take 12 to 14 months, according to Ryan Sanders, vice president of development for Vice Capital.
McCoy and Vice Capital are also currently working on another housing development on N. 6th Street, on the 1500 block. The “Savoy 48” will include 48 apartment units, 10 of which will be affordable by federal standards.
While that project broke ground in June 2023, Sanders said that construction has been delayed, but will likely begin in the coming months.
Harrisburg District Approves School Reconfiguration
The Harrisburg School District’s building configuration will look different in the coming academic year.
At a recent board meeting, Receiver Dr. Lori Suski approved the opening of some school buildings, the closing of others, and the moving of several grades to different buildings for the 2024-25 school year.
At a meeting in November 2023, Superintendent Eric Turman presented several options for reconfiguration, which he said would help balance student populations at each building, create neighborhood schools on the elementary level, and allow the district to prioritize facility improvements.
Suski approved the plan, which includes removing students from Scott Elementary School and repurposing the building. Additionally, the Lincoln Administration Building will be used as an elementary school. The plan also includes phasing out Rowland Intermediate School over three years and moving those students to Camp Curtin Middle School.
In addition, the plan includes enrolling only sixth- through eighth-grade students at Marshall Math Science Academy, which currently includes the fifth grade. Cougar Academy, now housed in the Lincoln building, will move to the Hamilton building on N. 6th Street, replacing the Specialized Services Education, Inc. program, which will move to Scott temporarily.
Also wrapped up in the reconfiguration is the re-opening of Steele Elementary School, a long-vacant building that the district has been renovating. Steele will contribute to creating more neighborhood-based schools on the elementary level, Turman explained.
Historic Status for Zembo Shrine
A notable Harrisburg building has received national recognition for its history.
Zembo Shrine, on N. 3rd and Division streets, recently announced that it is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Shriners hope that the new designation will offer opportunities for growth.
“It’s something we are very proud of,” said Mike Smith, former Zembo potentate. “It shows the community what we are about.”
Several years ago, the fraternal organization had put Zembo, which was built in 1929, on the sales market, stating that maintaining the building had become too costly. However, in February 2022, the Zembo Shriners pulled the building off the market, opting to retain and restore it as an event space.
“Just talking to people who aren’t even Shriners, I’ve seen what Zembo has meant to them,” Smith said. “People love Zembo and want it to stay in our hands.”
Once they decided to keep the building, the Shriners moved forward with the process of registering it as a National Historic Place, citing its unique Moorish Revival-style architecture. Zembo partnered with the Historic Harrisburg Association (HHA), which helped the organization raise donations for registration process costs.
“We are delighted that HHA was able to provide technical and administrative assistance to Zembo in the challenging process of seeking and successfully securing a National Register listing,” said HHA President Jeb Stuart.
With the designation, Smith said that Zembo can now apply for certain grants that are only made available to properties on the register. The organization has also been working to make upgrades in the building, recently replacing the HVAC system and completing roof work.
And while membership has been on the decline over the years, Zembo still has about 1,350 Shriners who meet in the building.
To celebrate Zembo and its addition to the National Register of Historic Places, HHA will host “A Toast to Zembo Shrine!” at the Shrine on Friday, May 17, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will also honor recipients of HHA’s 2024 Preservation Award.
East Shore Y Weighs Remodel, Expansion
Big changes may be coming to the East Shore YMCA as the organization is taking a step forward in the planning process.
Last month, the Y issued a Request for Expressions of Interest in hopes of finding a developer partner to play a role in the proposed renovation of its N. Front Street facility.
A year ago, Y officials told TheBurg that they were in the preliminary stages of a plan to upgrade and possibly expand on the aging, historic building. According to Harrisburg Area YMCA President and CEO David Ozmore, the East Shore Y has faced significant financial challenges due to the pandemic and the age of the building, which was built in the 1930s.
“It’s a costly infrastructure,” Ozmore said. “Our facility needs to be modern.”
While most of the exterior of the building can’t be changed, due to guidelines for historic properties, the Y is interested in possibly remodeling inside its building, the wellness center and its adjacent administrative office building.
In total, the Y owns 2.16 acres of land that could be utilized for the project.
Through the request for interest, the Y hopes to find developers that are interested in partnering with them to help design, fund and execute the project, Ozmore said. A developer could also potentially help connect the Y with other organizations interested in operating in the renovated facility.
“We’d love to collaborate and work with other nonprofits under one roof and share costs and share expenses,” he said. “That would be a much more efficient way to operate.”
That could include clinics, mental health providers, nonprofits, social service providers and retailers sharing space inside the new Y building.
However, if the Y doesn’t receive interest from developers, the organization would move forward with taking on the project by itself, which Ozmore said would likely be more costly, up to an estimated $30 million, for the Y.
The Y will solicit interest from developers for the next several months, with a goal to conduct interviews with developers and deliberate at the end of the summer. Ozmore said that he hopes to have a site plan ready by next year.
The total project construction is expected to take around five years to complete.
Home Sales, Prices Higher
Home sales inched up as prices recorded strong gains in the Harrisburg area in February, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.
For the three-county area, sales totaled 373 homes, compared to 368 in February 2023, as the median sales price rose to $264,000 from $234,950, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).
In Dauphin County, 171 homes sold, eight fewer than a year ago, but the median sales price increased to $220,000 from $205,000, GHAR stated.
Cumberland County had 185 home sales, versus 157 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $299,900 from $270,000, GHAR said.
In Perry County, 21 homes sold, a decrease of two sales, as the median sales price went up to $260,000 from $215,000 in February 2023, according to GHAR.
The pace of sales was nearly unchanged from a year ago, with 31 “average days on market” compared to 30 days in the year-ago period, GHAR said.
So Noted
Allison Kierce was promoted last month to president and chief operating officer of Junior Achievement of South Central PA. Tom Russell will continue in his role as CEO, according to the organization.
Ellen Min has been named senior vice president and chief equity officer of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, according to the organization. Min previously served as a manager for Reach Cyber Charter School, an adjunct professor at Elizabethtown College and head of school at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School.
John Clare last month was named artistic director for Gretna Music, known for its summer series at Mt. Gretna Playhouse. Clare has been programming classical music for radio audiences for 29 years, including at WITF, and most recently hosted Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall, where he will continue as the morning host.
Kedar Revankar has been named the chief operating officer for Mechanicsburg-based West Shore Home, according to the company. In this role, he will oversee operations, warehouse and inventory, bringing 20 years of supply chain management to the company.
Penn State Health last month cut the ribbon on a new outpatient practice, the Penn State Health Medical Group—Millersville. The medical clinic offers primary care, sports medicine and on-site lab services to patients in the community from the location at 15 Shenks Lane, Millersville.
Changing Hands
Bailey St., 1188: R2 Investors LLC to 371 Chelsea Street LLC, $100,000
Bigelow Dr., 14: R. Love to VAB Investments LLC, $98,000
Chestnut St., 1918: A. Smith to D., A., C. & S. Pittman, $65,000
Chestnut St., 1961: Normans Realty Service Inc. to F. Olivo, $98,500
Derry St., 1429: P. Sisemore & K. Hugo to D. Keech, $96,684
Derry St., 1952: Malesic Group Inc. to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $130,000
Emerald Ct., 2456: J. Seelbinder to D. Tamang & R. Bhandari, $159,000
Evergreen St., 23: A. Giambanco to Destiny Harrisburg LLC, $144,000
Forster St., 1831: Progressive Retirement Solutions to W. Quezada, $62,000
Forster St., 1839: GZL Corp. to D. Henderson, $63,500
Forster St., 2002: R. Speece to D. Illanes, $86,000
Geary St., 613: P. Briseno to 613 Geart St LLC, $70,000
Green St., 1011: J. Umble to JM Thrift & Vintage LLC, $115,000
Green St., 1303: D. Reinhart to J. Johnson, $175,000
Green St., 1310: K. & K. Daczka & A. Johnson to K. White, $205,000
Greenwood St., 2113: Parcview 135 Corp. to Wisechoice USA LLC, $52,000
Hoerner St., 113: L. Palmer to Balaci Properties LLC, $95,000
Hoerner St., 115: L. Palmer to Balaci Properties LLC, $95,000
Hoerner St., 125: L. Palmer to Balaci Properties LLC, $95,000
Hoffman St., 3214: D. & C. Harmon to Honest Home Solutions LLC, $117,700
Holly St., 2020: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to F. Berrun, $127,000
Kelker St., 235: D. Robinson & J. Vu to S. Swanson, $217,500
Kelker St., 315: C. Nicassio to Roar 315 Kelker LLC, $138,995
Kensington St., 2259: Lansanah Home Services Group to J. Fernandez, $131,000
Luce St., 2350: J. Yohn to E. Vega, $145,900
Maclay St., 331: J. & S. Compton to D. Joseph, $184,900
Manada St., 1928: B. Do to B. & V. Doan, $60,000
Market St., 1220: Upscale Properties LLC to E. & N. Footman, $240,000
Market St., 1808: W. Chavez & K. Flores to M. Perez, $135,000
Mulberry St., 1844: Custodian FBO Ray Dunkle IRA Trust to J. & B. Vergis, $107,000
N. 2nd St., 1337: I. & R. Bloser to Calcor Holdings LLC, $135,000
N. 3rd St., 2206: Grentals LLC to Golden Property Holdings LLC, $250,000
N. 4th St., 2312A: G. Smith to R. Elliott, $157,500
N. 4th St., 2430: Nationstar Mortgage LLC to M. Wassef, $68,900
N. 4th St., 3301: Invariant Real Estate II LLC to Z. Porter & N. Everston, $163,000
N. 6th St., 2533: D. & R. Wieand to 371 Chelsea Street LLC, $121,000
N. 6th St., 2724: J. & A. Fabre to 248 S Quince St LLC, $85,000
N. 7th St., 2642: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Lapp, $72,000
N. 13th St., 131: F. Contreras to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $120,000
N. 14th St., 231: Bedrock Capital Management Inc. to D. Boyle, $59,000
N. 15th St., 220: J. Medina & F. Morocho to L. Figueroa, $135,000
N. 15th St., 917: M. Sadi to JTA Consulting Group LLC, $60,000
N. 16th St., 900: T. Casteel to I. Ahmed, $252,000
N. Cameron St., 101 & 109 and 111 Hancock St.: R. & S. Otto to RS3 Ventures LLC, $227,000
N. Front St., 1117 & 1119: R. Laguna & L. Maloney to R. Laguna, $100,000
Paxton St., 1631: M. Doeur to EA Capital LLC, $80,000
Penn St., 1824: BCR-1 Properties LLC to R. Arambiges, $250,000
Penn St., 2126: J. & S. Compton to Lift Legacy Partners LLC, $110,000
Radnor St., 411: R. Gillis & K. Baran to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $75,000
Randolph St., 1511: Culcay Remodeling & Gaugua Remodeling LLC to R. Cespedes, $180,000
Reel St., 2417: JRHeller.com LLC to 2417 Reel Street LLC, $59,000
Reel St., 2423: D&L Development Group Inc. to EA Capital LLC, $84,900
Reily St., 109: K. Bardon & E. Cameron to S. & E. Harris, $230,000
S. 17th St., 415: A&K Investment Partnership LLC to A. Caceres, $145,000
S. 17th St., 542: G. & M. Garcia to Figueroa Enterprises LLC, $75,000
S. 18th St., 159: M. Ayyad & A. Abdel to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $64,000
S. 18th St., 1224: L. & C. Guzman to A. & E. Castillo, $195,000
S. 20th St., 19: W. & M. Kharalah to CJ Good LLC, $90,000
S. Front St., 611: F. Barton to Vaugh Real Estate & Investment and Colon Investments LLC, $200,000
S. Front St., 705½: S. Jackson & C. Colon to A. Harris, $206,000
State St., 211: State Capital Property Holdings LLC to Z. Herbert, $485,000
State St., 1522: L. Marquez to J. Pownall, $178,000
State St., 1907: DTJ Associates LLC to K. & S. Collins, $181,050
State St., 1918: Faraone Properties LLC to M. & A. Cottrell, $217,000
Susquehanna St., 1627: H. Dana to J. Case, $110,000
Thornwood Rd., 204: J. Schimmel to New Holland Enterprise Management LLC, $190,001
Whitehall St., 2031: C. & N. Bickel to Dem Estate Investment LLC, $63,500
Harrisburg property sales, February 2024, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
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