A rendering of the Tunnel to Towers project in south Harrisburg (credit: Tunnel to Towers)
A project to construct affordable housing for veterans in south Harrisburg can move forward to a groundbreaking.
On Tuesday night, City Council approved the land development plan for New York-based Tunnel to Towers’ 64-unit apartment building and 20 small “comfort homes” for veterans along the Susquehanna River, near the PennDOT building.
Originally, the proposal generated some controversy, as the project will take land long used by the Capital Area Greenbelt Association (CAGA) to connect its trail segment in south Harrisburg.
The Harrisburg Planning Commission approved the project on the condition that the developer allow the Greenbelt to remain along the southern border of the property. However, council removed that condition on Tuesday, after CAGA, at a work session last week, said it planned to pursue an alternative route around the Tunnel to Towers site.
At last week’s meeting, council members largely expressed support for the project, but questioned the developer about local and minority contractor participation in construction, programming for tenants and property security. On Tuesday, council voted unanimously to approve the land development plan.
“I really look forward to this project because I feel like it is something that is very much needed,” said council member Ausha Green at last week’s meeting.
Tunnel to Towers is the second housing project for veterans in the South Harrisburg area. In May, Veteran’s Outreach of Central Pennsylvania cut the ribbon on its tiny houses for veterans nearby.
In addition, another group of local residents has teamed up with Missouri-based nonprofit Eden Village to propose constructing tiny houses for unhoused people in the same area. That project still must go through the city’s land development process.
In other news, council approved a bill that targets the illegal creation and use of ghost guns. Ghost guns are firearms created using build kits and sometimes even incorporate parts made with a 3D printer. These guns do not have serial numbers and are untraceable. The bill will require those in Harrisburg who purchase or sell unfinished gun kits or use a 3D printer to make gun parts to have a Federal Firearms License (FFL).
“This is, of course, a no-brainer. It’s something we need,” said council member Jocelyn Rawls, at last week’s council work session. “It’s us being proactive.”
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