Coronavirus Pandemic Forces Shutdowns
Harrisburg last month issued an emergency declaration and shut down city government buildings to the public until further notice.
With the declaration, all official city buildings closed to the public, including the MLK Jr. Government Center, the Public Works building and the Reservoir Park Mansion.
Despite the shutdown, the city continues to provide all essential functions and services, according to Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
“We are all in this together,” Papenfuse said. “I encourage the community to adhere to Gov. [Tom] Wolf’s directives and use precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.”
Most city workers continued to work, some remotely, Papenfuse said. The public should use the drop box at the rear of the building to pay bills, submit forms and drop off other items, he said.
For inquiries, residents are encouraged to fill out the city’s online support form at www.harrisburg.gov/support, email info@harrisburgpa.gov or call the city’s 311 help desk, which will continue to operate.
Likewise, Dauphin County declared a disaster emergency and closed county government offices to the public until further notice. All events and activities at county facilities also were cancelled.
County residents who want to pay a tax bill or drop off a voter registration form or absentee/mail-in ballot can deposit items in a locked box near the entrance of the Dauphin County Administration Building on 2nd Street in Harrisburg. The Dauphin County Courthouse also will have a secure box near the entrance on Market Street where documents can be dropped off.
Last month, Wolf allowed most state workers to work remotely, and most private businesses were ordered to close their physical locations. He also closed public schools.
Wolf also ordered all “non-essential stores” to be closed throughout the commonwealth, though dine-in restaurants can continue to sell through delivery and takeout. Essential businesses to remain open include grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies. All Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores also closed until further notice.
“Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents, especially the elderly and most vulnerable,” Papenfuse said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during this disaster emergency.”
Council Overturns Veto
Harrisburg City Council overrode a mayoral veto last month, though the two branches of government agreed to work towards a policy that could give the city more leverage over future development projects.
By a 5-2 vote, council rejected the action by Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who had vetoed a resolution that would vacate several “paper” streets on a parcel of land where the new federal courthouse now is rising.
Papenfuse said that he vetoed the resolution to make a point. He wants council members to create a policy that would require developers to conduct a “public benefit analysis” when requesting street vacations.
Such a policy, he said, would give the city leverage as developers continue to plan projects in Harrisburg. In exchange for the street vacation, the city could ask for certain benefits, such as offsetting city-borne costs, making streetscape improvements, utilizing local labor or including affordable housing.
“It could help us with affordable housing policy in the city,” he said.
In February, council approved a resolution that would vacate “various unnamed paper streets” on the 4.2-acre site at N. 6th and Reily streets, where the federal government is building a 243,000-square-foot courthouse. Papenfuse then vetoed that resolution.
Usually, paper streets are narrow “baker’s” or “grocer’s” alleys that offer rear access to row houses. On the courthouse site, neither the houses nor the alleys exist any longer, but the public rights of way remain on paper.
Papenfuse told council that, currently, the city holds little leverage over a developer outside of the normal planning and zoning process. Requiring an analysis for street vacations would give the city a tool to extract “public benefit” concessions for large projects, he said.
“It would be a power vested in City Council that is not granted through the land development process,” he said.
Before casting her override vote, council President Wanda Williams criticized Papenfuse’s housing strategy, saying that he has supported past development proposals in the city that didn’t include an affordable housing element. Despite the criticism, Williams said that she would be interested in discussing a street vacation policy.
“I think we should work on this quickly,” agreed council member Dave Madsen, one of two votes, along with council member Westburn Majors, to uphold the veto.
Papenfuse admitted that his veto was unlikely to impact the federal courthouse project, which is slated for completion in spring 2022. But he said that he wanted to make a point that council should pass a street vacation policy.
“These are public streets,” he said. “Potentially, there are things that could be received in exchange, which goes well beyond the courthouse.”
Also last month, City Council:
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- Voted 6-1 to approve an agreement transferring the Strawberry Square Arcade to the Strawberry Square Condominium Association, with Williams voting no.
- By a 5-2 vote, approved a resolution to hire Harrisburg-based Maverick Strategies to continue to provide consulting and lobbying for the city. The agreement for the $5,000 monthly retainer expires on Dec. 31.
- Unanimously passed a resolution hiring Ecological Solutions to provide lake management services for Italian Lake at a cost of $9,125.
- Unanimously passed a resolution backing state legislation that would allow Pennsylvania residents, regardless of immigration status, access to a valid driver’s license.
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City Starts Facebook Live Events
Harrisburg last month held its first Facebook Live event, focused on the COVID-19 outbreak and what it means for city residents.
With city hall shut down to visitors, Mayor Eric Papenfuse used the platform, with a broadcast on WHBG-TV Channel 20, to address residents’ concerns and answer questions about everything from emergency services to the local economy.
“Although we are facing an international health crisis, Harrisburg is a resilient city, and we have survived crises before,” said Papenfuse, joined by police Commissioner Thomas Carter and Fire Chief Brian Enterline. “We’ve made it through the TMI disaster, we’ve made it through Agnes, and we train and prepare for disasters on a regular basis.”
During the event, Papenfuse took time to explain updates in the city regarding recent orders from Gov. Tom Wolf. He commended Wolf for taking preventative action to mandate the closure of non life-sustaining businesses.
The panel highlighted services available in the city, including the school district’s feeding program and the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s efforts. Papenfuse said that, at the same locations as the student meal pick-ups, any resident in need of food can partake.
While Carter acknowledged many homeless shelters are filled to capacity, he assured many, such as Bethesda Mission, are still giving out food. He also mentioned that residents who are undocumented immigrants should not fear asking the city for help.
“We will be providing emergency services regardless of national origin or citizenship,” Papenfuse said. “You won’t be asked, you’ll be helped.”
While the city is working to help residents, officials acknowledged that response times to calls for the police may be slower with shifting priorities during this time.
“We do have new priorities and calls related to health concerns regarding the virus have to take priority over others,” Papenfuse said.
With businesses shutting down, he ensured residents that they will not be penalized for late trash service payments, rent payments or other city taxes.
“We are all in this together, and we can weather the storm,” he said.
“Community Conversations with Mayor Papenfuse” are slated to continue each Friday at noon as a forum for information and discussion during the pandemic.
Revised Design Approved
The city got its first look last month at a new design for a planned academic building for downtown Harrisburg.
At a special meeting of the city Planning Commission, Harrisburg University presented its plan for an 11-story building at the corner of Chestnut and S. 3rd streets.
“The revised design is very similar to what was approved,” said David Alessi, senior associate at Stantec, the project’s architectural and engineering company.
Last year, the commission approved plans for a 17-story building and a 10-story hotel. However, HU’s hotel partner, Harrisburg-based HHM, was unable to secure financing for that portion of the project, said HU President Eric Darr.
“We worked with multiple finance partners, but we couldn’t wait any longer,” Darr told commission members.
The problem, he said, was comparative. He said that a project analysis showed that the hotel would be profitable. Nonetheless, potential financiers felt that they could get an even better return by committing their money to projects in other cities, he said.
With the loss of the hotel, HU cut the project’s size by about one-third, proceeding solely with an educational building. The $100-million, 260,000-square-foot facility will house HU’s health sciences programs, simulation labs and other academic programs.
Planning Commission members seemed satisfied with the design, complimenting HU for adding brick to the façade and for aligning the design with HU’s current building on Market Street.
“I like how it blends in with HU’s tower,” said commissioner Zac Monnier.
The new design also eliminates a planned curb cut along Chestnut Street.
Following HU’s presentation, the commission unanimously approved the new development plan, which now must be approved by City Council.
HU has already cleared the site at S. 3rd and Chestnut streets, but hasn’t yet started to build the structure. Assuming the revised development plan passes council, HU expects the building to begin to take shape this summer and be completed in late 2021.
Apartment Project Proposed
A New York-based developer with strong ties to Harrisburg proposed last month to convert the former Salvation Army Harrisburg headquarters to a new apartment building.
Michael Lam lives in Queens, N.Y., but owns more than a dozen properties in Harrisburg, mostly small buildings with commercial space on the ground floor and apartments upstairs.
His latest proposal would be his largest project, a 25-unit apartment building at Green and Cumberland streets in Midtown.
“The units aren’t huge, but they’ll be very done very nicely,” he told TheBurg. “I’m going to bring a lot of New York style to it. They’ll be very trendy, very nice.”
Lam envisions a series of duplex-style one- and two-bedroom apartments, with parking included.
Several years ago, the Salvation Army Harrisburg put its long-time home on the market after it made a decision to relocate to the 500-block of S. 29th Street, near the city line. It made that move last year.
The organization has been asking $560,000 for the 18,500-square-foot building, which was constructed in 1954, plus another $330,000 for the 34-space accessory parking lot across the street. A second, smaller lot off of Penn Street has another eight parking spaces.
Before he can complete the purchase, Lam needs his project to be approved by the city. He made his first presentation last month to the city Planning Commission.
Harrisburg Mayor, ICA Clash
Harrisburg has filed a lawsuit against its state financial oversight board to force the board to fully include Harrisburg’s representative.
In February, the city filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court claiming that the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) has systematically excluded Bruce Weber from participating in executive sessions and other ICA business.
Weber, Harrisburg’s budget and finance director, is the city’s non-voting representative on the seven-member board.
Following the meeting, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that Weber has been routinely excluded from executive sessions and other ICA matters.
“He has every right to participate in the deliberations of the ICA,” Papenfuse said, following the meeting. “They have refused that from the very beginning.”
The ICA and Harrisburg last year passed a draft five-year financial recovery plan for the city, designed to allow the city to exit Act 47, the state’s program for financially distressed cities. They’re now in the process of making updates to it.
“The ICA expresses disappointment over the current litigation initiated by the mayor,” said ICA Chair Audry Carter, in a statement. “The lawsuit is a needless distraction from the important work of removing Harrisburg from Act 47.”
February Home Sales Rise
Housing data continued to be strong in the Harrisburg area, with sales and prices both up in February.
For the three-county region, sales increased to 487 housing units, compared to 441 in February 2019 and 388 in February 2018, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The median sales price was $180,000 versus $168,000 in the year-ago period and $157,000 in February 2018, GHAR said.
In Dauphin County, 250 housing units sold in February, compared to 235 last year, while the median price rose to $164,900 versus $150,000 in February 2019, according to GHAR.
In Cumberland County, 214 homes sold compared to 191 a year ago, while the median sales price increased to $213,000 from $195,000 in February 2019. Perry County also showed a sales increase, to 23 units versus 15 last year, though the median price fell to $163,000 from $210,000 in February 2019, GHAR said.
Over the past year, both housing sales and prices have generally trended up in the Harrisburg area, according to GHAR.
So Noted
Capital Region Water last month suspended street sweeping and hydrant flushing until further notice due to the health crisis. Likewise, the city and parking operator SP+ suspended parking enforcement for street sweeping. CRW also asked customers to conduct business with them remotely—by phone, mail, email or online.
Harrisburg University has launched a new “User Experience Center,” which tests products for user friendliness. Student interns test clients’ video games, websites, education software and other products. HU plans soon to move the center into its own storefront space on the first block of S. 3rd Street in Harrisburg.
Kesher Israel has purchased the former Riverside United Methodist Church in Uptown Harrisburg. Following building renovations, the orthodox Jewish congregation plans to move there from its current synagogue on the 2500-block of N. 3rd Street.
Sandwiches by Shakedown has opened in the stone building of the Broad Street Market. Chris and Sarah Heilig, former owners of Shakedown BBQ in Grantville, offer a selection of signature sandwiches and salads from the stand that formerly housed Mel’s BBQ.
TheBurg captured five awards in the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Foundation’s annual Advertising Awards contest. TheBurg won two first-place awards, one for “best single ad” and another for “best real estate ad,” one second-place award and two honorable mentions. It was the first time that TheBurg participated in this statewide competition.
Zeroday Brewing Co. is in expansion mode, with plans to open a brewery/restaurant this summer on the 900-block of N. 3rd St. The Harrisburg-based brewer also is building out a bar and tap room inside Midtown Cinema as part of the cinema’s renovations and will convert its current taproom to production-only space. Longer term, Zeroday plans to partner with Chris and Sarah Heilig of Shakedown BBQ and Sandwiches by Shakedown to open a restaurant next year at Susquehanna Union Green in Susquehanna Township.
In Memoriam
Vera Cornish, publisher of The Urban Connection of the Capital Region, died in late February. Cornish had a long and distinguished career as an activist, speaker, teacher, consultant and author. Besides serving as a newspaper publisher, she was the founder of the Women of Heritage Breakfast, founder and producer of the Access & Opportunity Breakfast Series and founder and producer of the Access & Opportunity Career Fair. She ran her own company, Cornish & Associates, was the first director of institutional diversity for HACC, and served on many boards and committees. In the course of her career, she received numerous honors and awards and, in 2018, published a book entitled, “Dare to Dream.” Memorial contributions should be made to the Vera Cornish Dare To Dream Fund at The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, 200 N. 3rd St., 8th floor, Harrisburg PA 17101. This fund supports women’s empowerment, financial literacy and social entrepreneurship, with a focus on communities of color.
Changing Hands
Bellevue Rd., 1962: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $30,200
Bellevue Rd., 2042: D. Miller & M. Heagy to D. Young, $105,000
Berryhill St., 2144: M. Wilson Jr. to H. Alcantara, $38,200
Berryhill St., 2160: M. Pavelko to J. Ranck, $51,000
Berryhill St., 2254: T. Planasky to G. Singh & H. Kaur, $44,500
Berryhill St., 2314: A. & J. Budzinski to D. Smith, $65,000
Boas St., 433: R. Spencer to P. Brynildsen & S. Imbesi, $149,900
Boas St., 1925: Resistance Properties LLC to W. & J. Flannery, $40,000
Briggs St., 253: M. Patel to 253 Briggs St., LLC, $95,000
Chestnut St., 2208: J. Spangler to D. Wolfe, $222,000
Chestnut St., 2403: L. & M. Walton to C. Colon, $205,000
Crescent St., 249: PD Estate Properties LLC to A. & P. Woodman, $45,000
Crescent St., 350: D. & S. Zimmerman to Element Properties LLC, $48,000
Derry St., 2138: Santander Bank NA to Zeta Theta Lambda Foundation Inc., $40,500
Duke St., 2447: Genesis Opportunity Development Corp. to PA Deals LLC & Rich Steele Realty LLC, $30,000
Forster St., 1926: D. Jackson to CR Property Group LLC, 34,800
Fulton St., 1723: D. Snyder to S. DeLong, $123,000
Fulton St., 1730: C. Topper to Y. Downing, $145,000
Green St., 807: M Billo to T. Wetzel & H. Potteiger, $125,000
Green St., 1519: W. & E. Sauer to PA Deals LLC, $70,200
Green St., 2329: J. Yesser to A. Jobes, $32,000
Green St., 3224: C. Wise to G. Gebhardt & L. Mintz, $154,000
Hale Ave., 429: D. Hoang & M. Le to H. Le & N. Huynh, $42,000
Hillside Rd., 107: St. MacDonald & M. Warner to P. & K. Trufahnestock, $255,000
Industrial Rd., 4150: W. Houck Jr. to Addison Lee Group LLC, $1,600,000
Kelker St., 642: S. Clark & S. Lewis to K. & S. Pittman, $30,000
Kensington St., 2033: R. Dawon to CR Property Group LLC, $35,000
Kensington St., 2233: T. Holden to H. Alcantara, $38,001
Kensington St., 2345: PA Deals LLC to A. Molinelli, $72,000
Kensington St., 2413: P. & N. Nguyen to D. Wallace Sr., $69,900
Mercer St., 2459: US Bank NA Trustee to D. Dowling, $38,500
Muench St., 410: JB Buy Rite LLC to JTC Property Management, $50,000
North St., 1619: K. Sol to K. Mooney, $48,000
North St., 1818: Hari Group LLP to Revive Our City LLC, $45,000
N. Front St., 25: Pennsylvania Association of Conservation to 25 N. Front Street LLC, $437,000
N. 2nd St., 1213: J. Tang to WG PA Holdings LLC, $188,000
N. 2nd St., 1601: Centric Bank to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $88,000
N. 2nd St., 3107: P. Bernd to B. Leger, $135,000
N. 3rd St., 2209: A. & V. Rockmore to J. Cruz, $132,000
N. 3rd St., 2227: H. Bowman to C. & A. Smucker, $98,000
N. 3rd St., 2340: D. & S. Houck to MRI Properties LLC, $160,000
N. 3rd St., 3010: L. Smith to Equitable Builds LLC, $62,000
N. 5th St., 2424: J. & P. Williams to B. & A. Okubanjo, $60,000
N. 6th St., 2354: G. Elam to E. Wright, $95,000
Norwood St., 916: Crist Holdings LLC to Y. & E. Paige, $35,000
Park St., 1831: 9 Iron Ventures to H. Rodriquez, $46,000
Penn St., 1523: T. Smith & K. Leighton to P. & P. Gellerman, $161,400
Penn St., 1621: J. & M. Pricer to J. & D. Brubaker, $70,000
Penn St., 1805: T. & K. Hand to D. Bixler & S. Scholl, $131,000
Rumson Rd., 2995: R. Miller to J. Shuman, $100,000
S. 13th St., 421: D. Nguyen to L. Robinson, $85,000
S. 17th St., 1033: D&F Realty Holdings LP to Y. de Rodriguez, $45,000
S. 19th St., 214: L. & D. Burkhart to F. Molina & M. de la Rosa, $41,100
S. 28th St., 651: K. Meyers & G. Deimler to 17th Street Real Estate LLC, $195,384
S. 28th St., 701: K. Meyers & G. Deimler to 17th Street Real Estate LLC, $244,232
State St., 1314: D. McGlynn to 88314 LLC, $43,000
State St., 1837: JustGeoff Partners LLC to E. Patry, $35,000
Swatara St., 1610: C. Moffitt to Revive Our City LLC, $70,000
Swatara St., 2142: R. Chowdhury & A. Nasrin to Top Notch Homes LLC, $50,000
Walnut St., 1936: D. Moyer to M. Molinar, $50,000
Woodbine St., 226: Axxess Creations LLC to Trip Aces 226 LLC, $86,000
Harrisburg property sales for February 2020, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
