Funding Dispute Hits SAM
A battle over state funds has pitted a bank against a local construction firm and put in question the future of the newly opened Susquehanna Art Museum.
Last month, the Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority asked the Commonwealth Court to intervene in a dispute between the Harrisburg-based JEM Group and Fulton Bank, which both are laying claim to $1.2 million of a state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant.
JEM, the project’s general contractor, states that it is owed the money as part of its construction fee and cannot pay its subcontractors without it. Fulton put a claim on the money after SAM failed in March to repay half of a $3 million loan.
At press time, negotiations between the parties had opened, but no resolution had been reached.
SAM opened its new, 20,000-square-foot facility in Midtown Harrisburg last January to great fanfare. However, museum officials since have said they have not been able to meet ambitious fundraising goals.
Leaf Collection Changed
Harrisburg is changing its leaf-collecting procedure this year, asking residents to use compostable paper bags for leaf collecting and disposal.
Moreover, the city is urging residents not to rake leaves into the street, which has been a common practice for many years.
“We are asking Harrisburg residents to cooperate with our Public Works employees this fall to help the city efficiently manage leaf collections,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We strongly encourage residents not to blow leaves into the street, but to put them in brown paper bags that workers can take to the Swatara Township composting site.”
The administration said that the city has a “limited number” of large brown bags available to residents for free. They can be picked up at the Public Works Center at 1820 Paxton St. during regular work hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Otherwise, residents will need to buy the bags, which can be purchased at many stores, including hardware and home improvement stores.
After collecting the leaves, residents should leave the bags on curbs for collection during street cleaning days. Plastic bags will be not accepted.
Bridge Rehab Work Approved
The Harrisburg City Council last month agreed to enter into an agreement with a civil engineering company to provide pre-construction services for two city bridges.
Council unanimously agreed to hire Herbert, Rowland & Grubic at a cost not to exceed $77,700 for design, engineering, permitting and other services for the bridge that carries Market Street over Paxton Creek and the bridge that carries Sycamore Street over the railroad tracks.
According to the city, inspections have revealed “deteriorating conditions” on both bridges.
City Engineer Wayne Martin said that the administration had not yet agreed on a funding source for the actual construction work, but may use a portion of the state liquid fuels tax, which is provided to municipalities for roadway maintenance and construction.
PHFA Expansion Weighed
The Harrisburg City Council last month began consideration of a proposal to add about 35,800 square feet of office space to the riverfront headquarters of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA).
PHFA’s plan includes construction of a 120-foot tall office tower in a surface parking lot at the rear of the agency’s current, eight-story building at 211 N. Front St.
The project also would raze a mid-20th century addition to the historic Hickok Mansion, located at the corner of Locust and Front streets and also owned by PHFA.
The plan previously had been approved by both the city Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board.
PHFA has been trying to expand its decade-old headquarters for the past several years.
To do so, it first proposed razing the Hickok Mansion, and, after that met with public opposition, proposed knocking down two 19th-century houses on Locust Street. The final plan preserves both the original mansion and the two houses.
Donor Names Sought
An attorney in a legal battle with Harrisburg over its gun laws plans to appeal a ruling in the city’s favor over the privacy of donors to a legal defense fund, according to court filings.
Joshua Prince, of the Berks County-based Prince Law Offices, requested court transcripts for an appeal after Dauphin County Judge Andrew Dowling ruled the donors’ names could be kept private.
Prince is representing a gun-rights membership organization in a separate lawsuit against Harrisburg over its firearms ordinances. He sought documents, including donors’ names and addresses, in an open records request last February.
The city provided a list with the names and addresses redacted. Prince appealed to the state open records office, which ordered the city to release the full record.
Dowling, however, agreed with the city on appeal that the identity of donors is exempt under state open records law. He also sided with the city in finding it had provided records sufficient to meet other parts of Prince’s request.
Harrisburg set up its legal defense fund earlier this year after two groups sued the city over its ordinances regulating the use and ownership of firearms.
So Noted
Char’s Tracy Mansion is up for sale as owner Char Magaro last month announced her intention to retire and sell her Front Street restaurant. Magaro said that she had hired Lancaster-based Strategic Endeavors to manage the sale of the fine-dining restaurant, which she opened about three years ago after closing her original bistro in Shipoke. Magaro said she wanted to spend more time with her grandchildren and in her role as vice chair of the environmental group, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future.
Mulligan’s Pub has a new name and look after a redesign of the downtown Harrisburg bar. The interior of the renamed Mulligan’s Café and Courtyard has been divided in two, with the front area dominated by a large bar and the back area featuring an interior courtyard, which primarily serves as a restaurant. Mulligan’s, located at 17 N. 2nd St., is one of four Harrisburg establishments owned by Kamionka Entertainment Group.
Danielle Bowers has been named to the Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board. The City Council last month unanimously made the appointment, with a term that expires in July 2018. Bowers is a research analyst for the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee of the state House of Representatives and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Penn State.
Changing Hands
Adrian St., 2433: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to C. Austin, $64,000
Calder St., 102: C. McCormack to K. Goodling & K. Shepherd, $149,900
Croyden Rd., 2871: J. Staniszewski to G. Dennis & S. Campbell, $60,000
Derry St., 2060: KSAG LLC to S. & M. Mejia, $140,000
Duke St., 2610: Residential Mortgage Loan Trust 2013 TT2 to M. & M. Kaif, $67,500
Graham St., 610: W. Taylor & S. London to Cment Enterprises LLC, $33,000
Green St., 802: K. Sheets to P. Rosen, $199,900
Green St., 1525: Mid Penn Bank to C. & S. Bikle, $35,000
Green St., 1704: L. Stevens to B. & C. Hansen, $199,900
Green St., 2006: Becodi Associates to B. Colucci, $129,900
Green St., 2915: J. & S. Kelly to K. Manderino, $211,000
Green St., 2932: J.A. Hartzler to B. & A. Smith, $330,900
Herr St., 403: S. Hankins to C. Kotlarski, $104,900
Herr St., 850 & 900: Acquired Capital I LP to Cameron Street Investments, $281,000
Kensington St., 2232: Harrisburg Rentals LLC to C. Austin, $62,000
Market St., 1849: Acquired Capital I LP to Nish Properties LLC, $40,000
Market St., 1927: J. Santiago to K. & E. High, $88,000
Midland Rd., 2408: H. McFarland to J. Jaxheimer, $40,000
N. 2nd St., 306: G. Dobrinoff to NJR Group LLC, $120,000
N. 2nd St., 1509: Flores Prado Real Estate Inc. to J. Tang, $42,000
N. 2nd St., 1517: W. Oliver to N. Shamatutu & K. Kelly, $203,550
N. 2nd St., 1605: NR Group LLC to T. Wylie, $269,000
N. 2nd St., 2531: M. & H. Hope to S. Mirza & F. Jabari, $60,000
N. 3rd St., 916, 918, 920 & 922: EFA Co. LLC & Mosaica Education to Third Street Partners LLC, $900,000
N. 3rd St., 1312: 1312 North 3rd Street LLC to Qui Zhen LLC, $250,000
N. 3rd St., 3215: R. & P. Alexander to L. Grandstaff II, $169,900
N. 4th St., 1619: GWD Capitol Heights LP to C. Hippensteel, $104,900
N. 4th St., 1701: J. & B. Sadlier to R. Steinmetz III, $115,000
N. 4th St., 2709: B. Siddons to T. Landis, $103,000
N. 7th St., 1943, 1945 & 1947: P. Dobson to Shentel Communications LLC, $65,250
N. 7th St., 2926 & 2940: Casim Inc. to Seventh Street Real Estate Holdings LLC, $224,000
Peffer St., 264: M. Linksie to J. Stimple, $105,000
Pennwood Rd., 3203: PA Deals LLC to Heller Investments LLC, $106,000
Radnor St., 127: E. Poling to A. Mentzer & S. Jones, $229,500
Shellis St., 2102: A. Bos to T. Thanasakrungruang, $53,250
S. 12th St., 1517: Joy Ark Builders Inc. to A. Early, $51,000
S. 13th St., 216 & 228: B. Santago to Keystone Community Development Corp., $35,000
S. 15th St., 226, 228, 232, 234 & 1430, 1436, 1438, 1440, 1442, 1444 Derry St.: T. Koutsokostas to Willow LLC, $120,000
S. 18th St., 1218: S. & M. Mavric to J. Johnson, $99,999
S. 20th St., 1226: R. & G. MacWhinnie to W. & M. Branche, $132,000
S. 26th St., 601: M. Brown & S. Anderson to D. Aye, $74,000
S. 26th St., 605: US Bank NA Trustee to L. Mosley, $38,000
S. Cameron St., 1119: Statewide Enterprises LLC to Paradise Pizzeria & Coffee Shop LLC, $575,000
S. Front St., 317: M. Homa to A. & K. Thornton, $119,000
S. Front St., 587: D. & W. Weigle to M. Robert, $114,000
Susquehanna St., 1703: S. Everett to R. Taylor, $103,000
Valley Rd., 205: C. Best to K. Stewart, $155,000
Vernon St., 1413: E. & A. Castillo to T. Sweet, $75,000
Walnut St., 407-409: J. & C. Bowen to M. Kurnig, $225,000
Harrisburg property sales for September 2015, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
