Harrisburg Strong Gets Thumbs Up
A near-unanimous City Council last month affirmed most elements of the Harrisburg Strong financial recovery plan for the city, followed days later by the approval by a Commonwealth Court judge.
The council vote allowed major elements of the plan to move forward, including the sale of the incinerator, the long-term lease of the city’s parking assets, an increase in the earned income tax rate and changes to union contracts. In sum, the council:
- Approved the sale of the debt-ridden incinerator to the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority.
- Voted to raise parking meter rates and lease the city’s parking assets to the state Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA), which, in turn, will subcontract the operation to Standard Parking Corp.
- Extended a hike in the earned income tax rate to 2 percent through 2016.
- Approved the installation of 88 new parking meters in Midtown, mostly on N. 3rd Street from Verbeke to Reily streets.
- Agreed to changes in union contracts for police and non-uniformed city employees.
Following the council vote, Commonwealth Court Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter held a hearing on the plan and gave it her blessing. About 18 months ago, she had approved the preliminary plan and needed to OK the many changes to it.
The complex Harrisburg Strong plan promises to relieve the city of its debilitating debt load. Highlights of the plan include:
- Sale of the incinerator for net proceeds of $126 million to $132 million.
- Long-term lease of the city’s parking facilities, including about 10,000 garage, surface lot and metered spaces, for around $260 million.
- Elimination of most of the city’s long-term debt and a promise of a balanced budget through 2016.
- The receipt of ongoing revenue from the leased parking assets.
- The creation of three not-for-profit entities that would pay for infrastructure improvements, economic development initiatives and retired city worker healthcare.
- Settlement of most litigation and claims against the city, with several creditors accepting less than what they were seeking.
Before voting, City Council members amended the legislation so that their votes would take effect only if the Harrisburg Strong plan is implemented by all parties per the agreement.
More Cops on the Beat; New Captain Named
The Harrisburg Police Department has moved an additional 17 officers to street patrol, Mayor Linda Thompson said last month.
The boost helps address the high volume of calls that has taxed the existing patrol force, frequently requiring officers to work overtime.
The 17 officers, along with two administrative positions, will be drawn from specialty units that focus on areas like street crime and housing. The move demonstrates that having sufficient cops on patrol is the department’s top priority, said acting Police Chief Thomas Carter.
Separately, force veteran Deric Moody was promoted last month to captain, heading up the department’s criminal investigations division. In that post, Moody replaced Carter, who took over as chief after the sudden retirement of former Chief Pierre Ritter.
Permanent Home for Gamut
Harrisburg theater-goers soon will have a new venue to experience some of the area’s finest children’s and classical theater, as Gamut Theatre Group announced plans last month to relocate to an historic downtown church at 15 N. 4th St.
Gamut finalized its $435,000 purchase of the First Church of God, constructed in 1854. It now will renovate the 12,000-square-foot church to accommodate its two troupes: the Popcorn Hat Players Children’s Theatre and Harrisburg Shakespeare Company.
The renovation will proceed in two phases, said Gamut’s Executive Director Melissa Nicholson. Phase one, estimated to cost $700,000, will include construction of a main stage and a complete upgrade of the building’s physical infrastructure, she said. Phase two, priced at about $400,000, will include a second theater for children’s productions, as well as classrooms and other supporting spaces, said Nicholson.
Gamut has operated from rented space on the third floor of Strawberry Square for 20 years. Recently, it has actively sought to purchase a permanent home, almost moving to Lemoyne last year before that deal fell through.
Gamut will continue to produce plays at its current location before its planned move in fall 2014. It has kicked off a fundraising campaign to raise the $1.6 million needed to complete the project.
New Restaurant Building Approved
Downtown Harrisburg soon should add another new restaurant to its mix after a building project received zoning approval last month.
The Zoning Hearing Board unanimously gave the thumbs up to a proposed building for a small empty lot at the corner of State and N. 2nd streets. The building would be a single full story with a mezzanine level, enough to accommodate about 60 diners at a time.
Developer WCI Partners LP needed a variance and several special exceptions in order to start work on the proposed Italian-style restaurant at 200 State St., said WCI President Dave Butcher.
Butcher did not estimate when the project might start, as the company still needs to receive City Council approval of its land development plan and finalize an agreement with the proposed restaurant operator.
Craft Beer Country
A dozen breweries joined together last month to form the Hershey Harrisburg Craft Beer Country.
The new coalition will work with Dauphin County and the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau to promote the area’s craft brewers and attract beer enthusiasts to our region.
Participating breweries range widely from large and well established to newly formed to emerging. One new brewery, Alter Ego Brewing Co., plans to open its first location in the city of Harrisburg in the middle part of next year, according Alter Ego founder Theo Armstrong.
August Property Sales
Berryhill St., 1245: B. Arnold to Herlason LLC, $35,000
Boas St., 255½: J. Dewey to A. Cornelius, $116,000
Briggs St., 1509: B. Santana to E. Nugroho & J. Juniana, $160,000
Cumberland St., 268: Secretary of Veterans Affairs to W. & G. Landon, $84,000
Derry St., 1801: LandVest Harrisburg LLC to Dream Plaza LLC, $1.856,000
Emerald St., 232: K. Nyhart to T. Janz, $60,000
Green St., 712: R. Fink to G. Beeman, $75,000
Green St., 1608: J. Williamson to PA Deals LLC, $45,280
Hudson St., 1148: PA Deals LLC to J. Gaidos, $109,900
Meadowlark Pl., 3012: Dept. of Housing & Urban Development et al to E. Virella & J. Rojas, $36,500
N. 2nd St., 2333: S. Habtemichael to C. Cullis, $124,000
N. 4th St., 3303: M. & H. Elbaum & J. Johnson, $90,000
N. 5th St., 1526: J. Vargas to R. Barzyk Jr., $79,900
N. 5th St., 1738: J. Murphy to CNC Realty LLC, $125,000
N. 5th St., 2226: Fannie Mae to M. Christa, $34,000
N. 7th St., 2209: PSG Real Estate LLC to Sam Hill Properties, $220,000
N. 7th St., 2210 & 660 Woodbine St.: P. Goldberg to Sam Hill Properties, $180,000
N. 15th St., 165: B. Niles to D. Deligny, $59,800
N. Front St., 2837, Unit 103: Helen Smith Trust to F. Clark, $75,000
Penn St., 2309: LJC Properties LLC to Herlason LLC, $37,500
Radnor St., 410: Harrisburg Rentals LLC & Norman’s Realty Services Inc. to H. Lee, $75,000
Revere St., 1613: J. Rodriguez to N. Rodriguez, $50,000
Rumson Dr., 369: Dept. of Housing & Urban Development to PA Deals LLC, $37,000
Rumson Dr., 2578: D. & Y. Hayes to F. Ibohim & L. Gom, $75,000
S. 13th St., 1431: New Jerusalem Christian Church & City Limits Realty to G. Adams, $37,900
Swatara St., 2316 & 2320: J. & M. Polatar to C. Phipps, $95,000
