Executive Director Gary Lenker, of Tri-County HDC, speaks about the organization’s recently renovated and sold affordable home.
A newly renovated home in Allison Hill soon will provide affordable housing to a local low-income family.
On Monday, officials from Tri-County HDC showcased their recently completed redevelopment project—a single-family townhome at 247 Hummel St.
The three-story building is the fifth rehabbed home by the organization as part of its revitalization efforts in the MulDer Square neighborhood of Allison Hill.
“I am very proud of this project and the fact that all five homes we sold were to low- to moderate-income buyers who are women,” said Gary Lenker, executive director of the organization. “The demand greatly exceeds the supply right now, so we are so happy to be able to add to the supply of affordable housing in a busy market.”
The Hummel Street home was recently sold to a family for $109,900, according to Lenker. The family will pay a mortgage of around $500 per month and will not be required to pay property taxes for at least 10 years, thanks to Harrisburg’s LERTA tax abatement program.
The four-bedroom home required a total rehab, Lenker said. In total, including purchasing and renovating the building, it cost the organization around $200,000.
Tri-County HDC first began the MulDer Square project in 2016, as a partnership with the city, state, Harrisburg Housing Authority and Brethren Housing Association. They have since completed five single-family home renovations, all of which have been sold.
Lenker also pointed out the several empty lots across Hummel Street—the sight of Tri-County’s next phase of the project. Where many blighted buildings once stood before being demolished, the organization will construct five new single-family townhomes and one single-family home. These new residences, which will have addresses from 238 to 246 Hummel St., with the single-family home on Kittatinny Street, will all be designed for homeownership.
To be eligible for homeownership, residents must make no more than 80% of the city’s medium family income.
According to Dennise Hill, the director of the Department of Building and Housing Development for Harrisburg, projects like these are needed in the city.
“Organizations like Tri-County HDC and others in the community are crucial to stabilizing neighborhoods,” Hill said. “They are good partners in the community to really invest in the community and work with the city as we are working on blighted areas.”
For more information, visit Tri-County HDC’s website.
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