Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

January News Digest

City Budget OK’d, May be Re-opened

Harrisburg City Council ended its 2021 session last month with a lengthy agenda, including the approval of a budget and substantial development projects.

Council took a step in the city’s budgeting process, passing a 2022 budget that will serve as a placeholder until Mayor-Elect Wanda Williams takes office and likely reopens the spending plan.

The $79.2 million general fund budget, which includes no property tax increase, essentially mirrors the 2021 budget.

The administration proposed the placeholder budget in anticipation of Williams reopening it in the new year. The final budget must be adopted by Feb. 15.

Additionally, council gave the go-ahead to two large development projects in Harrisburg.

Developers Chris and Erica Bryce, along with Matt Long of Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, can begin work on their mixed-use building on the 1600-block of N. 3rd and Logan streets. It includes a community center and 12 apartment units. They also plan to construct eight townhouses nearby. The project is one phase of many planned by the developers for the Midtown area.

A plan for the historic Hudson building on N. 6th Street in Camp Curtin was also brought before council. Developer Adam Maust plans to transform the long-empty building into The Atlas, which may include office and retail space for local, specifically Black-owned businesses, he said.

However, city Solicitor Neil Grover stated that the project technically already had received automatic approval. A vote by council on each land development plan is required within 120 days of an application being submitted. According to Grover, a series of delays on the city’s part led to the project not going to council for a vote until after that deadline, rendering it legally approved.

Many council members were not happy with that result.

“How did we let something with so much public comment slip through the cracks?” council member Ausha Green asked. “It’s completely ridiculous.”

Although the project was deemed approved, council still voted on it, passing the land development plan by a vote of 6-1, with council member Shamaine Daniels voting against it.

 

Dauphin County Passes Budget

Dauphin County will hold the line on property taxes again this year, as the commissioners last month finalized the 2022 budget.

In a unanimous vote, the three commissioners passed a $278.5 million budget, which is 2.5% less than the 2021 budget.

The county portion of the property tax will remain unchanged for a 17th consecutive year at 6.876 mills.

“This was truly a team effort,” commission Chair Mike Pries said, in a statement. “Our residents demand accountability. We go over line by line and make tough cuts where we have to.”

Despite the good news for county taxpayers, the commissioners warned of “looming challenges” ahead.

Commissioner George Hartwick said that human services departments are struggling to recruit and retain staff because salaries are not competitive.

Commissioner Chad Saylor mentioned unfunded mandates. As an example, he cited changes to the commonwealth’s voting processes that caused the county’s budget for its Voter Registration and Elections Office this year to double.

“We cannot continue to hold the line without some funding from the state,” Saylor said.

 

Water/Sewer Rates Rise

The average Harrisburg water and sewer customer will pay a few dollars more a month in 2022, as Capital Region Water approved new rates for the year.

In late November, CRW passed its 2022 budget, which includes a 3% increase for drinking water and a 4% hike for wastewater service.

Under the new rate structure, drinking water rates will rise from $10.04 to $10.34 per 1,000 gallons. Wastewater rates will increase from $8.23 to $8.56 per 1,000 gallons.

According to CRW, the average Harrisburg customer who consumes 45,000 gallons of water annually will pay about $2.60 more per month.

The stormwater fee, first imposed in 2020, will remain the same at $6.15 per month for most residential customers.

CRW also stated that it is targeting two sources of new federal funding to help pay for improvements to the city’s aged, combined sewer infrastructure.

First, it expects to pursue some of the $1.4 billion that Pennsylvania will receive for water projects under the recently passed federal infrastructure bill. It also hopes to receive some of Harrisburg’s $48 million allocation under the American Rescue Plan Act, approved by Congress in March.

“With water and sewer infrastructure projects as an eligible use of funds, investments to reduce pollution just make environmental and financial sense,” said CRW board Chair Marc Kurowski, in a statement.

CRW is under a preliminary agreement with the federal government to slash pollutants that flow into area waterways, including some 800 million gallons of raw sewage mixed with stormwater that enters the Susquehanna River each year. To do so, it plans to spend about $315 million for system improvements and for green infrastructure, which captures stormwater before it enters the sewer system.

 

Comprehensive Plan Passed

An outdated Harrisburg planning document has finally been updated and replaced following a seven-year-long process.

In late November, Harrisburg City Council approved a new comprehensive plan, capping years of effort to bring the plan into the 21st century.

The resolution passed 6-1, with council member Danielle Bowers voting against it.

“I appreciate all the work of everyone on this council, and I’m glad we are at least able to get something on the books so that we can start moving forward,” council member Westburn Majors said.

The previous comprehensive plan was created in 1974, serving more than double its intended lifespan of 20 years.

In 2014, Harrisburg began to discuss creating a new plan, but was faced with years of delay. A dispute between the city and a former consultant hired to draft the plan prolonged the process, as did extensions to the public comment period.

The 246-page document is meant to help guide growth and development in the city. It includes topics such as land use, housing, mobility, parks, energy and cultural resources.

Over the years, the city held numerous public hearings and meetings on the plan, generating comments from community members.

Bowers explained her vote against the plan, saying that it was not accessible enough and lacked sufficient up-to-date public commentary.

“I don’t understand how a document is supposed to accurately reflect a city today when a majority of the public engagement is already dated and occurred five or six years ago,” she said. “I do not believe this document works for the city of Harrisburg.”

Other council members agreed that the plan could use improvements, but stated that it is a “living document” and could be updated on a regular basis in the years to come.

“This isn’t the best, but it is way better than a 40-plus-year-old document,” Majors said.

 

School Board Members Sworn In

The Harrisburg School District has a few new faces in office.

At a virtual reorganization meeting last month, the district swore in six board members, four of whom took their seats for the first time.

Dauphin County Magisterial Judge Sonya McKnight led the swearing-in of the following board members, who were elected last month:

  • Brian Carter, 4-year term (re-elected)
  • Danielle Robinson, 4-year term (re-elected)
  • Roslyn Copeland, 4-year term
  • Jaime Johnsen, 4-year term
  • Terricia Radcliff, 2-year term
  • Ellis R. Roy, 2-year term

“This is an incredible time to work together to really support the students, families and staff members of the Harrisburg School District,” Receiver Janet Samuels said. “I’d like to encourage the board members to step out there and to make a difference.”

Board members voted for Brian Carter for president of the board and Steven Williams for vice president.

 

2 New Shops for Strawberry Square

Two new shops arrived last month in downtown Harrisburg, as Strawberry Square filled up its 3rd Street retail spaces.

The first, AMMA JO, features boutique handbags, accessories, clothing, jewelry and other items for women, as well as a men’s section. For several years, AMMA JO was located in retail space inside Strawberry Square, but that location has been closed for some time.

“We are returning to the downtown because we just loved our experience in Strawberry Square, and we feel that the energy is coming back to the downtown experience,” said owner Amma Johnson. “We want to be a part of that!”

Johnson is neighbors with Sarinity Beauty Bar, which opened next door at 5 N. 3rd St. Sarinity offers skincare, spa service and beauty treatments.

“I am ecstatic to provide affordable spa services to the downtown and surrounding areas,” said owner Arian Romaine.

With these new shops, Strawberry Square has leased all the retail spaces in its “Shops on 3rd at Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown Enterprises, which owns the mixed-used building.

“Shops on 3rd has really become a fantastic collection of unique fashion boutiques, restaurants and health and beauty services for this outstanding downtown corridor,” Jones said.

Home Sales Flat, Prices Up

Harrisburg area home sales were generally flat in November, though prices showed continued strength over the three-county region.

For the month, 724 previously owned houses sold, just eight fewer than in November 2020, while the median sales price shot up to $231,000 compared to $215,000 in the year-ago period, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).

In Dauphin County, both sales and prices were up, as 371 homes sold versus 353 last year, while the median price rose to $208,500 compared to $185,750 the prior November, GHAR said.

Cumberland County had sales of 299 housing units, a decrease from 327, but the median price increased year-over-year to $245,000 from $238,000, according to GHAR.

In Perry County, sales totaled 46 homes, an increase of 10, while the median price rose to $204,950 versus $165,000 the previous November, GHAR said.

Houses were also selling relatively quickly, as the “days on the market” dropped to 20 days compared to 26 days in November 2020, according to GHAR.

 

So Noted

HACC will provide scholarships for some Black students seeking public safety careers, the college announced last month. Through a $112,500 grant from PNC, HACC will offer full-ride scholarships for low- to moderate-income Black students to attend their police academy or EMT program.

Harrisburg last month received two substantial state grants. A $500,000 “Violence Intervention and Prevention” grant will help expand the city Police Bureau’s community service aide program. A separate, $150,000 grant through the state’s Greenways, Trails and Recreation Fund will go towards creating a “tot lot playground” in Reservoir Park.

Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board has several new members, approved last month by City Council. They are Matthew Pianka, Claude Phipps and Anna Bianco, with James Hobbs approved as an alternate.

Janice Mazzitti was sworn in last month as the newest member of Dauphin County Court Appointed Special Advocates. She joins a volunteer team that represents the interests of abused and neglected foster children in the court system.

Paxton Ministries last month announced David Zilka as its new executive director. He replaces Jodie Smiley in the post. Zilka had served as the nonprofit’s director of operations since July 2019.

Team Pennsylvania last month named Abby Smith as its new president and CEO. She previously served as the organization’s vice president of policy and programs. She succeeds Ryan Unger, who left the post in June to become CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.

 

Changing Hands

Adrian St., 2234: J. Seidler to H. Lamb, $87,000

Adrian St., 2423: C. Warble to S. & A. Aziz, $94,900

Argyle St., 56: Wise Choice Property LLC to D. Boyle, $70,000

Berryhill St., 1421: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Berryhill St., 1425: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Berryhill St., 2122: G. Sipe to T. McFarland, $105,000

Berryhill St., 2324: J. Morrow to L. Ventura, $110,000

Berryhill St., 2430: A. Mohassab to L. Lora, $95,000

Boas St., 126: B. Love to PDI Properties LLC, $162,500

Boas St., 259: A. Batz to A. Nebbou, $97,500

Boas St., 1840: L. & M. Hinton to S. Maurer, $50,000

Briarcliff Rd., 135: A. & J. Gant to S. Vazquez & X. Echevarria, $289,900

Brookwood St., 2316: L. & W. Latty Trust to S. Good, $91,000

Chestnut St., 1203: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Chestnut St., 1848: Randazzo Group LLC to M. & N. Jacobs, $30,000

Conoy St., 106: J. & J. Lipman to M. & K. Neale, $175,000

Crescent St., 332: K. Stoute to Z. Alizada, $70,000

Crescent St., 332½: K. Stoute to Z. Artem, $70,500

Cumberland St., 211: B. Sholtis to L. Caruso, $165,000

Curtin St., 512: Vogelsong Investment Properties LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Derry St., 1148: K. Dieppa & F. Sanchez to D. Nguyen, $30,000

Derry St., 1153: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Derry St., 1203: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Derry St., 2018: M. Farner to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $85,000

Evergreen St., 103: J. Vogelsong to WiseChoice USA LLC, $45,500

Evergreen St., 109: Vogelsong Investment Properties LLC to D. Boyle, $33,500

Evergreen St., 237: MLP LLC to D. Boyle, $145,000

Fulton St., 1629: A. Drake to G. & L. Chow, $162,100

Fulton St., 1704: W. Ferguson to E. Hummel & B. Higgins, $163,000

Girard St., 759: J. Alexopoulos to P. Diaz, $81,000

Green St., 1005: D. Steiner to SPG Capital LLC, $110,000

Green St., 1322: R. Buyers to W. & M. Hammerstein, $176,000

Green St., 1938 & 1940: D. Varno to C. & J. Copus, $265,000

Green St., 2438: I. Almabruk to H. Gebhardt, $178,400

Green St., 3212: E. Griffin to J. & S. Compton, $100,000

Hamilton St., 424: SRJ Realty LLC to Morbucks Enterprise LLC, $50,000

Hamilton St., 501: E. Mwangi to S. Lawing, $197,500

Harris St., 216: D. Zimmerman to K. Sharma & R. Agarwal, $221,000

Harris St., 346: M. Baltozer to J. Cruz, $50,000

Harris St., 431: T. & B. Rossner to R. Durant Jr., $210,000

Harris Terr., 2443: M. Hayes to J. Spearman, $105,000

Herr St., 407: J. Burns to Twelfth Root LLC, $90,000

Jefferson St., 2450: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Bedrosian, $139,995

Jefferson St., 2657: W. Bower c/o G. Neff to I. Djeordjic, $56,000

Kensington St., 1952: Tout USA LLC to M. Montes, $80,000

Kensington St., 2001: North American Property Investments Inc. to D. Boyle, $32,000

Kensington St., 2217: John W. Hoover Trust to Wylie & Wylie Enterprise LLC, $60,000

Kensington St., 2243: L. Vo to T. Ha, $79,000

Kensington St., 2411: M. Raup to Z. Nickens, $74,000

Kittatinny St., 1247: M. Maniari to S. Griffin, $140,000

Lewis St., 326: B. Mehring to A. Sackor, $188,900

Luce St., 2357: E. & S. Mitrovich to DTJ Associates LLC, $39,000

Luce St., 2365: M. Phan to L. Duong, $45,000

Maclay St., 235: Everence Foundation Unique Assets LLC to F. Contreras, $124,000

Moore St., 2138: A. Ali to S. Gomez & W. Monroig, $114,000

Naudain St., 1510: Jawfre Property Investments LLC to J. Camacho, $53,000

North St., 1831: P. & V. Green to D. Boyle, $35,000

North St., 1843: John W. Hoover Trust to J. Strouse, $35,000

North St., 1936: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC & Y. Smith to J. Johns, $114,900

N. 2nd St., 621: J. Golob to Downtown Harrisburg Properties LLC, $167,000

N. 2nd St., 929: R. Barbush, S. Bishop, M. Magaro & L. Vanswol to AON LLC, $341,250

N. 2nd St., 1925: Reddinger Estates LLC to T. Cullen, $170,000

N. 2nd St., 2215: T. & J. Whye to C. & R. Hall, $300,000

N. 2nd St., 2517: J. Swope to C. & S. Warfield, $234,900

N. 2nd St., 3127: Tillotson Properties LLC to R. Gillis & K. Baran, $217,500

N. 3rd St., 1722: A. Glickman to N. Owens, $169,900

N. 3rd St., 2000: G. Neff to Heinly Homes LLC, $150,000

N. 3rd St., 2225: D. & C. Howard to G. Fierro, $175,000

N. 3rd St., 2229: S. & J. Bowman to A. & N. Consoli, $149,900

N. 3rd St., 3309: D. Daub to C. Hostetter, $175,000

N. 4th St., 1320: D. Isern to Z. Paul, $113,000

N. 4th St., 1701: S. Biray to K. Randolph, $195,000

N. 4th St., 2332: A. Hartzler to D. Mann, $135,000

N. 4th St., 2400 & 2402: E&K Homes LLC to RJ IBA LLC, $135,000

N. 4th St., 2419: S. Diaz to S. Boyd, $125,000

N. 4th St., 2641: J. Santiago to S. Salleb & M. Aziz, $90,000

N. 5th St., 1719: Alkaline Properties LLC to K. Taylor, $149,900

N. 5th St., 1736: A. & K. Abraham to E. Moore, $182,500

N. 5th St., 2307: SAN PEF Inc. to C. & A. McCarthy, $170,000

N. 5th St., 2312: B. Conway to J. Rogers, $111,000

N. 4th St., 1321: T. Slothower to Historic Holdings LLC, $385,000

N. 6th St., 2557: C. Yunga to N. & M. Gauchun, $60,000

N. 6th St., 3010: D., D. & G. Deppen to H. Ritch, $130,000

N. 6th St., 3123: Rustik Touch LLC to Seven Stories LLC, $100,000

N. 13th St., 141: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Bedrosian, $199,995

N. 15th St., 1413: D., V. and J. Barber to Elgamwo LLC, $56,900

N. 17th St., 1011: H. Ibrahim to J. Mosley, $55,000

N. 18th St., 26: John W. Hoover Trust to J. Strouse, $55,000

N. 18th St., 38: J. Vogelsong to D. Boyle, $40,000

N. 18th St., 69: Wise Choice Property LLC to D. Boyle, $70,000

N. 19th St., 709: WiseChoice USA LLC to Saint Liberty Group LLC, $41,000

N. 20th St., 24: John W. Hoover Trust to J. Strouse, $40,000

N. Front St., 1829: Lone Tree LLC to Harrisburg Redevelopment Group LLC, $1,200,000

N. Front St., 2837, Unit 201: H. Witte to M. Freeman, $130,500

N. Summit St., 31: T. Griese to J. Scheib, $79,900

N. Summit St., 118: J. & T. Armstead to Archie Group LLC, $35,809

Park St., 1825: M. Randazzo to A&K Investment Partnership LLC, $34,000

Park St., 1855: C. McArthur to V. Paulino, $41,000

Parkside Lane, 2910: W. & B. Hoover to J. & T. Nixon, $500,000

Penn St., 1927: A. Griffith to B. Toel, $175,000

Penn St., 2114: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Penn St., 2229: S. & J. Easterling to V. Antos & T. Hudecek, $152,000

Penn St., 2240: D. Allen to J. McFarland, $137,000

Penn St., 2323: K. Douglas to Ramsey Rhoads Holdings LLC, $54,000

Regina St., 1721: Vogelsong Investment Properties LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Reel St., 2404: Great Row LLC to S&K Properties LLC, $47,900

Reel St., 2412: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Reel St., 2739: JOG Investments LLC to D. Boyle, $40,000

Regina St., 1849: J. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Reily St., 220: Dobson Family Partnership to SJL Rentals LLC, $155,000

Rumson Dr., 311: M. Chandler Jr. to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $83,000

Rumson Dr., 2574: R. Reeves to E. Drum, $89,200

Schuylkill St., 542: Roz Diamond I Do LLC to O. Smith, $115,000

Schuylkill St., 655: RT Propertiez LLC to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $50,000

Seneca St., 502: House Cash LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $40,000

Showers St., 579: S. Staruch to C. & L. Scott, $134,900

S. 12th St., 1522: L. Sims to SPG Capital LLC, $48,500

S. 14th St., 234: J. Gritten to C. Quiroz, $40,000

S. 14th St., 236: J. Gritten to T. Versano & T. Carberry, $63,900

S. 17th St., 526: H., A. & I. Santiago to A. Santiago, $69,006

S. 17th St., 1111: V. Ceballos to M. Guzman, $137,000

S. 19th St., 405: M. Solomikin to L. Feliz, $75,000

S. 19th St., 1324: SPG Capital LLC to H. Perez & K. Soto, $54,000

S. 20th St., 24: C. & S. Warner to Rich Steele Realty LLC, $51,000

S. 25th St., 344: P. Brodwoski to L. Strickler, $86,900

S. 29th St., 560: CBSL Investment Corp. to CBR Investment Group Inc., $250,000

S. Cameron St., 1303 & 1305: E. Buikema to Panas Investments LLC, $70,000

Susquehanna St., 2008: M. Paese, A. Fetchko, T. Leo & B. Myers to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $65,000

Swatara St., 1610: Revive Our City LLC & E. Qureshi to T. Amador, $120,000

Swatara St., 2415: P. Mackie & M. Swanger to A. Lake, $195,000

Thompson St., 1436: K. & M. Estep to F. Maldonado & Z. Perez, $39,000

Valley Rd., 2305: J. Alpert to D. White & T. Speicher, $256,250

Verbeke St., 252: A. & T. Kennedy to H. Clark, $205,000

Verbeke St., 1424: E. Lester to SPG Capital LLC, $54,000

Vernon St., 1445: C. Texidor to Z. Ali, $40,000

Waldo St., 2626: W. Bower to I. Djeordjic & M. Debeljak, $52,000

Walnut St., 120 & 122 and 261, 263 & 265 Cumberland St.: A. Himalaya PA II LLC to N&R Properties LLC, $1,200,000

Wiconisco St., 618: J. & P. Vogelsong to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $32,245

Zarker St., 1443: GBSM Enterprises LLC to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $30,000

Zarker St., 1841: J. Santiago to R. Emeregildo, $55,000

Zarker St., 1940: D. McNair to L. Rodriguez, $35,500

Harrisburg property sales for November 2021, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

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