Harrisburg Budget Changes Vetoed
Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams has reversed many of City Council’s changes to the city’s 2025 budget, amendments that she said were “targeting the administration.”
In late December, Williams announced that she had vetoed most of council’s budget amendments, most of which would have eliminated or lowered raises for employees.
“These vetoes are not decisions I made lightly,” Williams said. “They are rooted in the principles of operational efficiency, sound policy and fairness to the hardworking individuals who serve our city every day. Unfortunately, the amendments made by City Council fail to uphold these principles and I cannot in good judgment allow them to stand that way.”
According to city Communications Director Mischelle Moyer, Williams signed off on much of the $142 million budget, but line-item vetoed most of the amendments that council had approved, following extensive budget hearings.
Williams said that the amendments council made “undermine the values and the functionality of our city government.”
The amendments council had made included denying raises to several positions in the office of the mayor, saying that responsibilities didn’t justify raises. They also eliminated a raise for the deputy director of treasury, expressing frustration that the office hours were limited.
Williams vetoed both of those changes, restoring previously proposed raises.
Additionally, council had made changes that lowered numerous other proposed raises for city employees. They also eliminated about 10% of the salary for the interim director of building and housing development, the portion that is funded by the city, the rest of which is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Council also cut all funding for the director of community relations and engagement position in the police bureau, saying the position had been vacant and was not needed.
Williams also vetoed those changes.
“Denying them fair and measured raises, especially during a time of inflation, sends a demoralizing message to the public servants who dedicate their careers to this city,” Williams said.
Lastly, Williams vetoed a budget amendment made by council to allocate $10,000 to fund the hiring of two part-time advisors to council’s youth commission. Williams said that she believed that was a misallocation of city funds that could be used elsewhere.
Council President Danielle Bowers issued a statement shortly after that opposed Williams’ vetoes and re-enforced council rationale for amendments.
“You have no interest in working together with Harrisburg City Council,” Bowers said in the statement, addressing Williams. “If you were interested, you would understand our rationale behind the thoughtful amendments that were voted on to amend Bill 7-2024, the ‘2025 Annual Budget for the City of Harrisburg.’”
Downtown Project Approved
An office-to-residential conversion in downtown Harrisburg can proceed, following a final city approval.
Last month, City Council approved the land development plan for Front Street Lofts, an eight-unit apartment project at 315 N. Front St., a circa-1850 building that long housed a law firm.
The project calls for six one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units. According to developer Vernon Jones, six of the units would be market-rate and two would be deemed affordable.
The project also includes 10 parking spaces—four on site and six more off site, which would be leased.
Home Sales, Prices Rise
Harrisburg-area home sales and prices both climbed higher in December, according to the latest report on previously owned houses.
For the three-county area, 560 houses sold compared to 492 in December 2023, while the median sales price rose to $280,000 from $259,275, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).
In Dauphin County, 257 homes sold in December versus 245 in the year-ago period, as the median price increased to $254,900 from $243,500, GHAR said.
Cumberland County tallied 263 sales, a jump from 210 the previous December, while the median sales price rose to $310,000 from $284,950, GHAR stated.
In Perry County, 43 houses sold compared to 30 in December 2023, as the median price rose to $255,000 from $220,000, according to GHAR.
Despite the increases, the pace of sales slowed in December, as the “average days on market” increased to 29 days versus 23 days a year ago, according to the report.
So Noted
Angela Moyer and Matthew Healey last month were named as partners of RSR Realtors, a Lemoyne-based real estate brokerage. Moyer has been with RSR since 2006 and Healey since 2012, according to the company.
Elementary Coffee Co. plans to return to the Broad Street Market, 1½ years after being displaced by a devastating fire. The company expects to open a stand this spring in the stone building, reviving their second Harrisburg location, in addition to their North Street shop.
Harrisburg last month was named the top market in the nation for first-time homebuyers for 2025, according to a new report from Realtor.com, the website of the National Association of Realtors. In ranking first nationally, Harrisburg was cited for its affordable sales listings, short commute times, strong local economy and abundant amenities.
Honey Bear Ice Cream has debuted its first scoop shop inside the Broad Street Market. Honey Bear serves dairy-free, gluten-free scoops and treats from a newly built stand within the market’s stone building.
William M. Reed last month was named the new board chair for Veteran’s Outreach of Pennsylvania, replacing co-founder Tom Zimmerman, who will remain active, according to the organization. The locally run nonprofit operates the tiny home village located by the PennDOT building in south Harrisburg.
Changing Hands
Benton St., 626: W. Stoddart to AJ Fine Properties LLC, $80,000
Berryhill St., 2130: V. Griffin to Seimos Collective LLC, $78,000
Boas St., 229: JVC Investments LLC to V. Kaldawi, $180,000
Briggs St., 259, 261, 263, 265: R. E. & M. Kane to SJL Rentals LLC, $246,000
Camp St., 548: M. Baltozer to A. McCain, $50,000
Capital St., 1228: M. Whipple to K. Landers, $185,000
Chestnut St., 1919: C. & I. Ridgeway to K. Brown, $60,000
Crescent St., 253: I. Colon to S. Atelefack, $75,000
Crescent St., 304: J. & D. Negron to R. Hernandez & A. Soberanis, $50,000
Crescent St., 327: D. & G. Tuzzato to M. & K. Gonzalez, $70,000
Croyden Rd., 2975: B. Pierce to J. Lewis, $160,000
Derry St., 1433: Aum Investments LP to F. Ashenafi, $110,000
Duke St., 2450: K. Nguyen to T. Tran & T. Vu, $86,500
Forster St., 1936: M. Ricci to Dreamland Properties Associates LLC, $74,000
Green St., 914: C. Williams to KC Corner, $250,000
Green St., 1516: W. & T. Williams to J. Evans, $250,000
Green St., 3218: J. & K. Faust to C. Matthews, $200,000
Herr St., 419: G. Grasty to E. Wickens, $264,900
Holly St., 1850: Cas Management LLC to M. Lara, $175,000
Holly St., 1901: T Wy Enterprise LLC to A. Mercedes, $155,000
Hunter St., 1623: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
Kelker St., 217, L2: T. Smith to DJSV LLC, $190,000
Kent Lane, 199: S. & J. Fanus to CG Painting LLC, $150,380
Lexington St., 2602: G. Neff to MAT Holdings LLC, $110,000
Locust St., 122: Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Inc. to V. Nesbitt, $245,000
Logan St., 2222: L. Murrell to Turner Associates Inc., $124,000
Logan St., 2350: Y. Griffiths to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $75,000
Market St., 1650: A. Sinchi to F. Vasquez, A. Guillermo & B. Tello, $125,000
Meadowlark Pl., 3008: J. Selvey to J. Spangler, $140,000
Miller St., 1716: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
Miller St., 1718: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
Muench St., 227: A. Schwarzl & N. Foote to J. Barnett, $181,000
North St., 1720: S. Warfel to M. Lara, $150,000
North St., 1945: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
N. 2nd St., 1726: J. & K. Morgret to SJL Rentals LLC, $255,000
N. 2nd St., 2841: M. Barrett Market Street LLC to W. McClendon, $665,000
N. 2nd St., 3126: F. Szlamowitz to S. Updike & M. Muniz, $152,000
N. 3rd St., 1827: T. Perla to N. & S. Ruhland, $307,000
N. 3rd St., 2201 & 2205: 22015N3HBG LLC to FMDRE12 LLC, $525,000
N. 3rd St., 2534: 2534 RNR Properties LLC to H. & J. Nguyen, $215,000
N. 4th St., 2436: Normans Realty Services Inc. to C. Done, $148,500
N. 5th St., 1948: B. & K. Feidt to S. Ruiz, $125,000
N. 5th St., 2443: Santander Bank NA to G. Astree, $95,000
N. 5th St., 3135: Turner Associates Inc. to G&W Rentals LLC, $145,000
N. 6th St., 1001: EJM Investments LLC to MYE Harrisburg Owner LLC & 53BCD LLC, $6,775,000
N. 6th St., 1612: Timely Investments LLC to Diverse Investment Group LLC, $140,000
N. 6th St., 2122: C. James to G. Astree & M. Oxceva, $95,000
N. 6th St., 2346: M. McCullough to A. Comas, $130,000
N. 6th St., 2600: K. Evans to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $135,000
N. 6th St., 2705: R. Noss to Turner Associates Inc., $119,900
N. 7th St., 945: Capitol Commercial Corporation to AB3 Buyers LLC, $74,091
N. 7th St., 1827: D&F Realty Holdings LP to Raziel Properties LLC, $130,000
N. 12th St., 47: Wright Restoration Properties LLC to 27 N 12th St LLC, $100,000
N. 17th St., 701: PI Capitol LLC to YR Holdings LLC, $112,000
N. 17th St., 1011: J. Mosley to L. Richelieu & D. St. Cilien, $123,800
N. 20th St., 20: DKH Homes LLC to Rimax Investment Properties LLC, $109,000
N. 20th St., 22: DKH Homes LLC to Rimax Investment Properties LLC, $109,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 303: R. & S. Cuyjet to T. Smith, $177,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 609: D. Lucas & S. Stinson to A. Caro & C. Cruz, $225,000
N. Linden St., 29: E. Jones to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $104,900
Park St., 1625: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
Park St., 1632: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
Park St., 1633: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
Park St., 1854: B. Debeljak to ADR Properties LLC, $95,000
Park St., 1915: T. Sangrey & A. Nurkisheva to A Ventura Construction LLC, $94,000
Penn St., 2144: E. Jameson to T. Walker, $211,000
Penn St., 2312: Sunnyside RE Enterprise LLC to E. & N. Stoltzfus, $195,000
Pine St., 215: 215 Pine St. LLC & Pine St Properties LLC to East to West Properties LLC, $650,000
Race St., 608: M. Parsley to L. Stiffler, $228,000
Regina St., 1839: D&F Realty Holdings LP to R. De Florentino, M. De Lourdes & M. Diaz, $170,000
Revere St., 1622: Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC to K. & A. Atayee, $166,500
Royal Terr., 109: M. Pichardo to E Camones, $50,000
Rudy Rd., 2406: J. Cruz & C. Proctor to S. Schadle & S. Pacetti, $330,000
Sassafras St., 203: J. Feaster to H. Holmes, $133,000
S. 13th St., 1510: W. Powell to C. & W. Barnes, $105,000
S. 15th St., 15: J. Gonzalez to Padmini Estate LLC, $185,000
S. 15th St., 225: ANNN Investment LLC to Bah Equities LLC, $85,000
S. 15th St., 554: N&R Group LLC to Captain Cutinos Garages LLC, $70,000
S. 16th St., 525: RC Realty & Investments LLC to M3 6 Realty LLC, $52,000
S. 16th St., 529: K. Gray & J. Hiepler to Stein Equities LLC, $82,000
S. 18th St., 159: Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC to C. & J. Berlus, $175,000
S. 20th St., 209: J. & B. Readinger to G. Amador, $120,000
S. 20th St., 225: Lone Pine Real Estate LLC to Y. Garcia, $154,900
S. 21st St., 1000: Golden Brick Road LLC to 1000 S 21st LLC, $1,650,000
S. 26th St., 612: R. Brown to I. Myron, $84,000
S. Front St., 631: Shelan 2011 Family Trust to D. Valdes & G. Luna, $280,000
State St., 132: Cowden & Strokoff to M. Kenz, $370,000
State St., 1340: Kermon Home Solutions LLC to G. Rivette, $185,000
State St., 1410: SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC to Z. Mammadov, $185,000
Susquehanna St., 2114: R. & G. Kessler to MAT Holdings LLC, $80,250
Swatara St., 2243: D. Williams to M. & M. Kamel, $140,000
Verbeke St., 204 & 206: 204 Verbeke Lodging LLC to Burke Shade LLC, $320,000
Verbeke St., 214: Shelan 2011 Family Trust to D. Dhimal, $285,000
Woodbine St., 340: Normans Realty Services Inc. to Mau Properties LLC, $85,000
Woodbine St., 504: L. Yoder to 10 N Progress Avenue LLC, $100,000
Harrisburg property sales, December 2024, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
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