HUD Disbursements Proposed
Harrisburg last month began the annual process of distributing funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The Papenfuse administration proposed funding numerous social service agencies with part of the $2.6 million the city is receiving from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant funds.
Proposed recipients include the Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry, Mid Penn Legal Services, the Tri County HDC, the Fair Housing Council, the Heinz-Menaker Senior Center, the Camp Curtin YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg.
Harrisburg also proposed expending about $663,000 from the grant to cover debt service from two Reed-era projects: improvements along Market Street in the 1990s and construction of the Capitol View Commerce Center.
The city guaranteed a $3.8 million federal loan for the Capitol View Commerce Center, a project that collapsed after developer David Dodd ran out of money and stopped paying contractors. He now is serving a prison sentence on charges of misusing government funds and money laundering.
Eventually, John Moran of Moran Industries bought and finished the building at Herr and Cameron streets. Nonetheless, Harrisburg must pay back the federal loan that it backed.
The Papenfuse administration also proposed dispersal of $394,357 from a second HUD program, the HOME Investment Partnership Program. Most of that money will fund the city’s Homeowner Improvement Program.
Planning Meetings Held
Harrisburg last month hosted a series of meetings to gather public input on the drafting of a new comprehensive plan for the city.
The six meetings were held throughout the city to get ideas on such matters as transportation, housing, recreation, land use, mass transit and other subjects. The ideas now will be taken into consideration as Harrisburg goes about drafting a new plan, which will serve as a vision for the city’s future growth and development.
Comment also can be submitted at a website launched last month devoted to the comprehensive plan: www.behbg.com.
Harrisburg has hired the city-based Office for Planning and Architecture to guide the creation of the new comprehensive plan.
2 Positions Created
Harrisburg City Council last month approved two new positions requested by the Papenfuse administration.
The new deputy business administrator for parking is responsible for the remaining administrative functions of the former Harrisburg Parking Authority, which shut operations on June 30.
Last year, Park Harrisburg took over most of the city’s parking assets under a long-term lease, but the city still oversees two parking garages and a surface lot. Mayor Eric Papenfuse plans to hire Richard Kotz, the long-serving HPA director, for the $60,000-per-year job, a reduction from his former $100,000 salary.
Council also OK’d the creation of a temporary assistant city solicitor position. This attorney, who will earn $27,500 through December, will pursue action against 22 commercial trash accounts dating to 2008 that total about $1 million, Papenfuse said.
Both positions were funded by transferring money already in the city’s 2015 general budget.
No School Tax Hike
For a second straight year, Harrisburg homeowners will see no increase in the school portion of their property taxes.
Last month, the Harrisburg school board passed a $137.8 million budget that will keep taxes steady for the 2015-16 school year. The tax rate will be unchanged at 27.92 mills, meaning that the owner of a property assessed at $100,000 will pay $2,792 in school taxes before adjustments. Tax bills typically are mailed in July.
The district also bade farewell to Gene Veno, the district’s state-appointed chief recovery officer. Veno left the position after serving more than two years in the post. At press time, state Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera had not announced a replacement for him.
Pool Openings Delayed
Harrisburg youth again started the summer without access to a public swimming pool, as both city-run pools experienced problems that needed to be fixed.
The Jackson Lick pool had electrical and plumbing issues that needed to be addressed, while the pool at Hall Manor required some electrical repairs.
At press time, neither pool had reopened.
The 1960s-era pools both have suffered from repeated problems and shutdowns, though the Jackson Lick pool was open last summer. The Hall Manor pool has been closed since 2012, and the city repaired serious foundational issues last year.
Gonzalez Is Final Nominee
Lionel Gonzalez took the final Democratic nomination last month for Harrisburg school board following a tie-breaker.
After the May 19 primary, Gonzalez was tied with Daunessy Penn with 1,159 votes for the nomination for the final four-year seat. Two weeks later, Gonzalez won the nomination by a drawing of lots.
In addition to Gonzalez, the Democratic nominees for five, four-year seats on the school board are Jennifer Smallwood, Monica Blackston-Bailey, Matthew Krupp and Melvin Wilson Jr. Krupp also will be on the ballot as the only Republican nominee.
Judd Pittman is the Democratic nominee for the sole two-year seat.
Townhouses Debut
Brethren Housing Association and PinnacleHealth System last month completed construction of the Hummel Street Townhouses, three new houses in South Allison Hill.
The project will provide housing to single homeless mothers and their children, furthering BHA’s mission to help families transition out of poverty.
The townhouses replaced several severely blighted, abandoned properties at the corner of Hummel and Haehnlen streets.
Home Sales Up
The Harrisburg-area housing market continued to show improvement, as both units sold and the average sales price increased, according to data released last month.
The number of houses sold in May increased from 763 to 796, and the average sales price went from $183,221 to 187,436 compared to May 2014, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The average number of days on the market fell from 93 to 86.
The GHAR area includes all of Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties and parts of Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties. Dauphin County experienced the greatest rise in average selling price, from $152,649 in May 2014 to $174,798 in May 2015.
Changing Hands
Bartine St., 1124: K. Adams to A. Jackson, $102,500
Benton St., 512: M. Silvius to J. Eldred, $104,000
Berryhill St., 2477: S. Nguyen to V. Dieu, $42,000
Briggs St., 1946: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Shokes Enterprises LLC, $30,000
Chestnut St., 2214: J. & L. Coffman & V. Trimmer to D. Kauffman Jr. & J. Kantner, $145,000
Duke St., 2511: H. & A. Arahovas to P. Konstantine, $60,000
Fox Ridge Ct., 309: T. Knorr to J. Buss, $109,900
Fulton St., 1420: U.S. Bank NA Trustee & PA Housing Finance Agency to PA Deals LLC, $65,000
Green St., 1020: A. Kohr to J. & H. Piper, $91,500
Green St., 1226: W. Weidig to K. Lesher & P. Boyed, $102,500
Green St., 1504: M. Tanzini to J. Webb, $102,000
Green St., 1705: J. Weber to J. Tinnick, $109,900
Hamilton St., 201: Secretary of Housing & Urban Development & Hooks Van Holm Inc. to Braxley Renovations LLC, $75,000
Harris St., 230: Klimke Holdings LLC to C. Jackson, $175,000
Hillside Rd., 217: C. & K. White to J. Markel, $196,000
Lucknow Rd., 635, TR1 & TR3: Stabler Companies Inc. to Patlin Properties III LP, $415,000
Market St., 1845: Centric Bank to Nish Properties LLC, $45,000
Mercer St., 2456: J. & G. McCarchey to L. Bloodworth, $55,000
Nagle St., 123: E. Shover to K. Snyder & C. Kaufman, $135,000
N. 2nd St., 1217: R. Homisak to A. Campbell, $98,000
N. 2nd St., 1925 & 1927: D. & C. Herr to Reddinger Estates LLC, $30,000
N. 2nd St., 2701: P. Usner to K. Sheets & K. Hancock, $300,000
N. 6th St., 2433 & 2435: Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority to N. Wright, $35,000
N. 6th St., 3212: RT Home Solutions Inc. to PA Deals LLC, $85,000
N. 13th St., 505: A. Deimler to J. Kapp, $45,000
N. 19th St., 43: LMK Properties LLC to Equity Trust Co. Custodian, Julie Burns IRA, $55,000
Penn St., 1918: M. Gustantino to Z. Shamberg, $133,000
Regina St., 1710: Propmax LLC to Matt Walter LLC, $38,500
Reily St., 263: Fannie Mae to Nish Properties LLC, $107,000
Rolleston St., 1116: B. Quinones to M. Phan, $83,000
Rumson Dr., 385: R. & M. Spence to D. & D. Blount, $70,000
S. 29th St., 506, 510 & 514: Weis Markets Inc. to The Salvation Army, $1,250,000
S. Front St., 553: Ashbury Foundation to B. Trust, $70,000
State St., 231, Unit 204: LUX 1 LP to J. Montenegro, $119,900
State St., 231, Unit 405: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $124,900
State St., 231, Unit 406: LUX 1 LP to M. & K. Lastrina, $109,900
Taylor Blvd., 52: HSBC Bank USA to PA Deals LLC, $44,300
Yale St., 222: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to M. Cole, $59,900
