Affordable Housing Plan Approved
Harrisburg City Council approved several new affordable housing measures last month, in addition to a major apartment and parking project.
At a virtual legislative session, council passed a package of bills aimed at incentivizing affordable housing development and approved a large project that includes residential and commercial space, as well as a new parking garage.
The new affordable housing program establishes incentives for developers, including tax abatement, zoning relief and an easier street vacation application process.
In order to receive the benefits, developers must provide at least 20% of their units as affordable housing for low-income families, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The rent for any of these affordable units must not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income.
“The goal is to really bridge the gap between our residents and the developers,” council member Danielle Bowers said. “If we set this threshold too high, it’s not realistic for our developers to meet. If we set it too low, it’s not really affordable for our residents.”
Bowers said that Harrisburg’s 20% threshold is higher than many surrounding municipalities.
Developers can also receive parking requirement relief if 25% of the building’s units are rented at an affordable rate.
If developers receive a certificate of qualification and then do not continue to provide affordable housing, they could have their certificate revoked and may be fined up to $1,000, according to the new ordinance.
At the meeting, council also approved the land development plan for an 85-unit apartment building, including a 500-space parking garage, grocery store, office and retail space. The building will be constructed on a one-acre property surrounded by Boyd, N. 5th, Reily and Fulton streets.
Developer Kevin Baird said that his company plans to break ground in July or August and have the parking garage portion of the project almost completed by late summer of 2022, in time for the opening of the new federal courthouse nearby.
Charter School Wins Appeal
The Pennsylvania STEAM Academy has received approval from the state Charter School Appeal Board to open.
The Harrisburg school board denied the school’s initial application in 2019, but the state appeal board reversed that decision.
“It feels wonderful,” said Carolyn Dumaresq, chair of the academy’s board. “We are very excited to open.”
The charter school will be located at 1500 N. 3rd St. in the Midtown II Academic Building, formerly the Evangelical Press Building and later part of the HACC Harrisburg campus. Dumaresq said that the school’s focus is providing education around the topics of science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
The school will begin by serving kindergarten through second-grade Harrisburg students, Dumaresq said. Each grade will have two classrooms with 20 students. The following school year, the school will add two third-grade classrooms, expanding to add another grade each year until there are classrooms for up to eighth-grade students.
Dumaresq believes that the charter academy will prepare students for high schools in Harrisburg, such as Harrisburg High School’s SciTech Campus.
“All of the things we need are in place. It’s just getting everything formalized,” she said. “Now the big thing is going out and recruiting students.”
The Pennsylvania STEAM Academy plans to open fully in-person while taking the recommended COVID-19 safety measures.
Since November 2018, school officials have worked to move the school towards operating. However, they faced opposition along the way.
After the Harrisburg school district denied the STEAM Academy’s application, the charter school appealed the decision, collecting 1,844 signatures from supportive community members, well beyond the required 1,000. The school district, though, submitted an appeal to challenge those signatures.
In late March, the state Department of Education’s Charter School Appeal Board rejected the district’s appeal, allowing the Pennsylvania STEAM Academy to open.
Artsfest Moves to City Island
A sense of normalcy returns to the city late this month, as Harrisburg brings back the annual Artsfest celebration as a live event.
The annual artisan market and food truck festival will return for a hybrid in-person and virtual experience on May 29 through 31.
“While the traditional festival will be different this year, we look forward to welcoming back the talented artisans in a safe and modified way,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse.
The festival, typically held at Riverfront Park, will move to City Island to facilitate social distancing. As in past years, it will feature vendors and their handcrafted works, along with local food trucks.
Last year, Artsfest went completely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 2021, the city plans to keep aspects of the virtual event, including an online artisan market and virtual presentations. However, some of the traditional, in-person shopping experience will return.
Attendees can browse items for sale in 16 different categories, including ceramics, digital, drawing, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood.
The event has historically hosted over 200 artists, but city officials said that the number of vendors will be reduced somewhat.
The HBG Flea, an organization that hosts pop-up markets in the city, will return as a partner in the event.
“We’re so excited that Artsfest is coming back,” said Mary Imgrund, HBG Flea co-founder.
Jazzfest, which usually goes hand-in-hand with Artsfest, is cancelled this year, and the Filmfest portion will show movies virtually. For families, the city will offer free take-home educational and artistic kits, replacing the usual KidsFest.
According to the city, health precautions will be in place during the festival, including one-direction pedestrian traffic, capacity monitoring, hand-washing stations, vendors spaced 10 feet apart and social distancing markers. Masks also will be required.
The city plans to return Artsfest to Riverfront Park in 2022.
Street Dining Returns
For a second straight year, Harrisburg will close several streets to traffic so that patrons can enjoy dining al fresco on Saturday nights.
“Saturday Nights in the City” re-launches on May 1 and is slated to run each Saturday throughout the summer, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“We are pleased to bring back this summer initiative,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “I encourage residents to come support their favorite restaurants.”
The initiative, shared by the city and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District (HDID), began last year in response to the state-mandated shutdown of indoor dining.
Most restaurants have now reopened, with the commonwealth permitting 75% maximum capacity for indoor dining, as well as bar service. However, the city and the HDID deemed the program to be a success, so decided to bring it back with the return of warmer weather.
The list of participating restaurants includes Stock’s on 2nd, Carley’s Ristorante and Piano Bar, Ad Lib Craft Kitchen and Bar, Bourbon Street Saloon, Zembie’s, Arooga’s, Taste Key West, Cork & Fork, Federal Taphouse, Rubicon, Mangia Qui, Los Tres Cubanos, JB Lovedraft’s, McGrath’s Pub, The Brick Haus and Café Fresco.
For the weekly event, a number of streets will close. These include:
- 2nd Street, from Market to Pine streets
- State Street, from Church to N. 2nd streets, westbound
- North Street, from Susquehanna to 3rd streets
- Conoy Street
Street closures will begin at 3:30 p.m. and run until 10 p.m., the city said.
Summer School Program
Harrisburg school officials last month announced summer school opportunities for students to stay sharp and catch up if needed.
The district will provide programs for kindergarten through 11th-grade students. There may be options for both in-person and virtual participation, according to the district.
This comes after many students spent almost the entire school year learning virtually, in addition to much of last year.
Kindergarten through eighth-grade students can enroll in a six-week course that will likely run Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Throughout the half-day, teachers will provide language, writing, math and STEAM classes. The program will run from mid-June through the end of July.
Students in grades nine through 11 have the chance to participate in a three-week program, Monday through Thursday. There will be two sessions each day, one from 8 to 11 a.m. and another from 12 to 3 p.m. This will provide enrichment opportunities, as well as credit recovery for those who failed courses during the school year.
Home Sales, Prices Jump
Spring residential sales started out strong in the Harrisburg area, with both home sales and prices up in March.
Overall, sales totaled 612 houses, compared to 568 units in March 2020, while the median price increased to $205,000 versus $180,000 a year ago, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).
In Dauphin County, 286 homes sold compared to 270 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price rose to $175,000 versus $167,000, GHAR said.
Cumberland County had total sales of 282 homes, a substantial rise from 238 a year ago, as the median sales price went up to $230,163 compared to $205,000 in March 2020.
In Perry County, sales rose to 41 homes, an increase of 10 units, as the median sales price appreciated to $193,000 versus $171,500 the prior March, GHAR stated.
Houses were also selling more quickly, as the average days on market fell to 31 days compared to 50 days in March 2020, according to GHAR.
So Noted
Boneshire Brew Works opened a taproom last month in downtown Harrisburg, dubbed Taps@SoMa. Boneshire, based in Swatara Township, offers its beer on tap and to-go from the snug storefront at 13 S. 3rd St., formerly occupied by the rotating guest brewery concept, Sip@SoMa.
DTLR last month returned to its downtown Harrisburg storefront following a complete renovation of its space at 333 Market St. In January, the national fashion and sports apparel retailer temporarily moved down the street so that building owner Harristown Enterprises could enlarge their store from 4,000 to 7,000 square feet and update the décor.
Harrisburg last month extended its eviction moratorium for another month, until mid-May. This may be the last extension of the ban, as Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that he expected the city soon to begin to wind down the “extraordinary measures” implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harrisburg parks will have help transitioning to organic grounds maintenance thanks to a $25,000 donation last month from the GIANT Company, Stonyfield Organic and Non-Toxic Neighborhoods. The city also will receive support and guidance on park maintenance using organic and safe resources.
Matthew M. Haar last month was named managing partner of the Harrisburg office of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, a leading national law firm. In addition to this position, Haar is a member of Leadership Harrisburg and an adjunct professor at Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law.
Midtown Art Supplies has opened in Harrisburg, occupying a section of L&L Beauty Supply at 310 Reily St. Owner Darius Davis offers watercolors, acrylics, oil paints, stencils, pencils, brushes, canvases, drawing pads and resin, among other items.
New Cumberland Farmers Market opens for the season on May 1. The market, at 4th and Bridge streets in the parking lot of Kelly Financial Services, operates every Saturday through Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Nancy Ryan, a long-time radio personality and former co-host of the “Nancy and Newman” morning show, has launched a new business, Ryan-Rodgers Media, focused on connecting music fans with brands, businesses and community partners, including event promotion, product endorsements, commercials and social media projects. For more information, visit www.gnazzopromotions.com/nancy-ryan.
Open Stage last month announced a return to in-person performances, one of several local entertainment venues to re-open their doors. “Over the Rainbow: The Songs of Judy Garland” runs May 28 to June 25, the first production in its new summer series.
PA Department of Agriculture will hold an outdoor Spring Food Fest at the PA Farm Show Complex, May 7 to 9, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival includes farm show favorites, such as milkshakes, fried mushrooms and pulled pork, as well as a selection of PA Preferred providers. Food is grab-and-go, and pandemic restrictions will be enforced.
Urban Churn plans to expand to the west shore and reopen its Harrisburg scoop shop by late spring. Owner Adam Brackbill said he will open a retail and production location for his craft creamery in the Silver Creek Plaza outside Mechanicsburg. He also plans to renovate and reopen his Midtown shop on the 1100-block of N. 3rd Street.
Changing Hands
Allison St., 1507: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to 23 Hickory LLC, $129,900
Argyle St., 2: Gary Neff Inc. & City Limits Realty to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $39,000
Barkley Lane, 2524: C. Tucker to D. Martinez, $77,000
Boas St., 1823: Stoute Housing Inc. to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $55,000
Catherine St., 1610: Rich Steele Realty LLC to D. Boyle, $33,000
Crescent St., 450: DRW Properties LLC to Sanhos LLC, $35,000
Derry St., 1148: K. Dieppa to F. Sanchez, $37,500
Derry St., 1511: B. Gonzalez to RBAK Investments LLC, $55,000
Elm St., 1724: Dauphin County Property Investors LLC to S. Pichardo, $40,000
Geary St., 634: Rich Steele Realty LLC to D. Boyle, $33,000
Green St., 1207: J. Garisto to CE Heininger Properties LLC, $108,000
Green St., 1421: J. Davis to G. Lichtenstein, $137,500
Green St., 1909: J. Price to K. Kellum & D. Shearer, $246,000
Green St., 1912: B. Ostella & A. Fortino to Z. Fleming, $220,000
Hamilton St., 203: J. Schiller to SJL Rentals LLC, $150,000
Hamilton St., 324: D. Hinton to J. Henretta, $129,900
Hillside Rd., 217: J. Markel to J. Arp & C. Palmer, $240,000
Hoerner St., 107: A. Otwell to R. Lane, $53,000
Holly St., 1904: KA&B Investments LLC to G. Bierbaum & W. Alford, $76,000
Holly St., 1912: Crist Holdings LLC to Super Fun Real Estate Yes LLC, $60,000
Hummel St., 208: M. Baltozer to Brethren Housing Association Inc., $52,500
Hummel St., 239: K. Dieppa to Archierp LLC, $33,000
Hunter St., 1523: K. Dieppa to J. Vega & C. Salazar, $35,600
Jefferson St., 2714: Johnleo Home Renovations LLC to G. Linebaugh, $124,900
Kensington St., 2329: R. Dressler & E. Knuth to C. Grant & M. Rinaldi, $55,500
Lewis St., 325: D. Castano & N. Rosado to R. Gehrke, $125,000
Lexington St., 2721: Gilligan Realty LLC to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $60,000
Liberty St., 1415 & 1417: Blue Door Management LLC to G. Guzman, $75,000
Logan St., 2157: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Donald Klick Trust & Natalie Klick Trust, $115,500
Logan St., 2248: M. Loo to A. Sullivan & D. Adams, $75,000
Maclay St., 610: Goldstein Couriers LLC to A. Maust, $55,000
Manada St., 1915: PA Property Brothers LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $50,000
Manada St., 1917: PA Property Brothers LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $55,000
Market St., 1808: NationStar Mortgage LLC to W. Chavez & K. Flores, $75,000
Meadowlark Pl., 194: J. McCliment to S. Kuhn, $120,000
Mercer St., 2454: R. Sweigert to H. Kaur, $64,900
Muench St., 236: J. O’Hara to A. McNulty & M. Kuhns, $226,500
North St., 261: B. Hanson, M. Gregorits & D. Thomas to M. Henao, $124,000
North St., 1614, 2319 N. 4th St. & 2402 N. 5th St.: I. Druker to Clean Up LLC, $200,000
North St., 1711: Mussani & Co. to SPG Capital LLC, $58,000
North St., 1841: G. & K. Mannix to SPG Capital LLC, $40,000
N. 2nd St., 705: A. & L. Kanagy to N&R Group, $200,000
N. 2nd St., 1003: M. Sellers to K. Harlacher, $175,280
N. 2nd St., 2003; 1837 N. 2nd St.; 224 Kelker St.: M. Goldberg to WCI Partners LP, $550,000
N. 2nd St., 2005: Tang Liu Realty LLC to WCI Partners LP, $172,500
N. 2nd St., 3127: Honest Home Solutions LLC to Tillotson Properties LLC, $76,000
N. 3rd St., 1107: M. Horton & R. Spahr to E. Miano & N. Byler, $169,000
N. 3rd St., 1507: Mussani & Matz Co. to Third Street Realty Co., $180,000
N. 3rd St., 1810: Crowder & Co. to A. Manning, $120,000
N. 3rd St., 2252: T. Magilton to W. Smith, $146,000
N. 3rd St., 3121: J. Lilly to S. & J. Chohany, $129,000
N. 4th St., 1909: J. Kesler to Z. Fair, $97,000
N. 4th St., 2133: A. Fleming to NA Capital Group LLC, $37,500
N. 4th St., 2225: 2225 4th LLC to A. Matai, $82,000
N. 4th St., 2249: HSBC Bank USA NA & PHH Mortgage Corp. to M. & F. Cruz, $41,500
N. 4th St., 2337: M. Farrell to P. Carcione & C. Aumiller, $51,000
N. 4th St., 2433: Dauphin County Property Investors LLC & Hunter Property Services LLC to A. Abdulrahman, $40,000
N. 4th St., 2647: Master Ventures LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $58,000
N. 5th St., 2516: E. Morris to L. Hodge, $102,000
N. 5th St., 2615: M. Carlson to A. Chaplin & WeWelcome LLC, $42,500
N. 6th St., 1412: E. & L. Smeal to N. Smeal & R. Strella, $101,750
N. 6th St., 2239: V. Kegerries to Jo Light Construction LLC, $66,000
N. 6th St., 2426: Eden Bridge Foundation to R. Daniels, $84,000
N. 6th St., 2712: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to O. Fu, $150,000
N. 13th, 141: M. Terrell to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $61,250
N. 15th St., 1201: Tassia Corporation to K. Braddock, $36,000
N. 17th St., 88; 1150 Mulberry St.; 2519 N. 6th St.; 612 Oxford St.; 613 Oxford St.; 614 Oxford St.; 616 Oxford St.; 617 Oxford St.; 619 Oxford St.; 2308 Jefferson St.; 448 Hamilton St.; and 2332 N. 6th St.: SMKP Properties LLC to JMR Ventures LLC, $600,000
N. 17th St., 113: D. Newsome to T. & O. Solamola, $65,000
N. 18th St., 73: E. Morris & C. Perez to R. Newberry, $56,000
N. 20th St., 30: D. Selvey to C. & I. Castro, $75,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 313: M. Hadginske, M. Pasick, A. Steel & Pact Enterprises to BXF Real Estate LLC, $108,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 406: J. Davis to S. Lepadatu, $114,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 414: K. Hess to B. King, $115,000
Park St., 1624: KTT Properties LLC to New Dawn Holdings & Investments LLC, $68,000
Peffer St., 270: Wheatland Restore LLC to K. Manna & M. Eaton, $234,900
Penn St., 1617: B. Black to T. Cox, $163,000
Penn St., 1727: J. McCummings to J. Towzey & H. Salera, $160,000
Penn St., 1807: S. Mitchell to Wheatland Restore LLC, $100,000
Penn St., 2127: City Vision Revitalization LLC to K&M Housing LLC, $45,000
Penn St., 2226: C. Stefanski to A. Matailo, $50,900
Penn St., 2229: C. & S. Williams to S. & J. Easterling, $138,900
Pennwood Rd., 3116: M. Brown to A. Hollinger & E. Shellhamer, $115,000
Radnor St., 516: H. & N. Johnson to SPG Capital LLC, $42,000
Reel St., 2447: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to K. McGrath, $122,500
Reel St., 2634: R. & A. Laracuente to S. Bosco, $64,000
Reel St., 2743: R. & A. Laracuente to H. McKay, $55,500
Royal Ter., 149: N. & F. Zook to N. Alegre Maurer, $38,000
Rudy Rd., 1813: A. Acevedo to B. Perez, $30,000
Rudy Rd., 2133: J. & K. Kio to C. Weaver & A. Shughart, $160,100
Rumson Dr., 2948: N. Washington to F. Ramos & L. Suarez, $111,000
Seneca St., 521: T. Robinson to E. Spencer, $86,900
S. 13th St., 355: T. Marsico to Y. Lopez, $50,000
S. 14th St., 47: Capital Region Economic Development Corp. to Hamilton Health Center Community Services Inc., $115,000
S. 16th St., 336: L. Wilson to E. Rodriguez, $115,000
S. 17th St., 445: K. Foster to D. Nguyen, $40,000
S. 17th St., 532: D. Hargrove & D. Surbrena to J. Acosta, $44,500
S. 18th St., 1031: D. & M. Hillard to B. & T. Bender, $92,500
S. 20th St., 226: J. Medina to I. Carvajal, $88,000
S. 20th St., 1200: Peral Limited Partnership to G&H Holdings LLC, $40,000
S. 23rd St., 643: T. Fisher to V. Paulino, $32,500
S. 24th St., 605: R. Patel to Biyaki Enterprises LLC, $58,000
S. 26th St., 611: C. & L. Trinh to C. Baumann, $129,000
S. River St., 304: V. Murzin to N. Leri, $165,000
State St., 231, Unit 502: LUX 1 LP to X. Samuel, $135,000
State St., 1508: Harrisburg Homes Investment LLC to S. Moore, $100,000
State St., 1608: Dauphin County Property Investors LLC & Hunter Property Services to Pichardo Investments LLC, $60,000
State St., 1626: Amarica’s Choice Remodeling of HBG LLC to S. Moore, $120,000
Susquehanna St., 1624: J. Rogers to H. Blumenfeld, $135,000
Susquehanna St., 2010: M. Paese, A. Fetcko, T. Leo & B. Myers to SPG Capital LLC, $55,000
Swatara St., 2139: S. & K. Adley to T. & P. Feliz, $48,000
Verbeke St., 1729: M. Gillespie to R. Oladipo, $86,000
Vernon St., 1350: M. Soler to R. Schwartz, $30,000
Wiconisco St., 531: Kaylynn Investment LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $50,000
Harrisburg property sales for March 2021, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
Support quality local journalism. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
