Parking Rates Hiked
Street parking became even more expensive in Harrisburg last month, as the system’s manager implemented significant increases for metered spaces.
In early August, hourly street parking rose by 33% in the areas controlled by Park Harrisburg /SP+.
In the central business district (CBD) zone, which includes much of downtown, street parking rates increased from $3 to $4 per hour. In non-CBD areas, the rate rose from $1.50 to $2 an hour.
“This is the first meter rate increase since Park Harrisburg assumed responsibility for specified metered parking spaces and garages from the City of Harrisburg and Harrisburg Parking Authority in 2013,” said John Gass, managing director with PK Harris Advisors, the asset management company for the parking system, in a statement.
Gass added that a rate increase had been under consideration “for some time to provide sufficient cash flow to maintain expenses associated with the system.”
Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that he opposes the rate hikes and that the city was not consulted about the increase.
Harrisburg’s hourly street parking rates now are among the most expensive in the mid-Atlantic region.
Under Harrisburg’s 2013 financial recovery plan, SP+ took over management of much of Harrisburg’s parking system under a 40-year lease. The $286 million deal helped the city shed much of its crippling debt accumulated under former Mayor Steve Reed, much of it tied to botched retrofits of the city incinerator.
While street parking rates have not increased since SP+ took over the system in 2013, parking garage rates have increased.
Senior Housing Project Progresses
An affordable housing development for seniors received zoning approval last month, following significant pushback from neighbors at previous meetings.
A number of residents had expressed concern with the limited parking originally included in the project. But Bethel Village developers last month said that they had identified additional parking, leading the Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board to approve the proposed plan.
“We are just happy that the zoning board made the right decision for the residents of the community and also for the Bethel Village project,” said Ryan Sanders, of RB Development, the developer of the project.
The original plan called for a 49-unit apartment building for low-income seniors at N. 6th and Herr streets that included only four off-street parking spaces. Bethel Village officials stated that, since the project caters to low-income seniors, they didn’t expect most to own cars.
However, facing neighborhood concern, they said that they reached agreements with nearby Tabernacle Baptist Church for the future use of 15 surface parking spaces and with the state Department of General Services for 10 spots.
The $15 million project last month also received approval from the Harrisburg Planning Commission for its land development plan, which now will need final approval from City Council.
According to Sanders, Bethel Village would become part of the “Jackson Square” project that aims to redevelop a block with ties to local African American history along N. 6th Street.
The four-story, nearly 45,000-square-foot building would partially sit on the site of the former Bethel AME church that burned down in 1995. It would provide one- and two-bedroom rental units ranging in price from $300 to $1,000 per month for qualifying seniors.
Industrial Site Purchased
A major logistics company has purchased a large swath of industrial land in Harrisburg, completing a years-long transaction.
Under the name Herr Street Investments, Watsontown, Pa.-based Moran Logistics bought a 21-acre site off of Cameron and Herr streets, once the heart of industrial Harrisburg.
CREDC, the nonprofit economic development arm of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber, sold the land for $505,000, following an environmental assessment of the property.
In a statement, John Moran Jr., owner of Herr Street Investments, thanked the Chamber and CREDC for their involvement, adding that, “this unused site is now positioned to provide many new opportunities for the City of Harrisburg.”
Moran did not specify how the company planned to use the site, though Moran Logistics already operates at the adjoining World Trade Center Harrisburg at the corner of Cameron and Herr streets. Statewide, the company operates over 5 million square feet of storage space in numerous locations.
Historically, the Harrisburg Steel Corp., which became the industrial giant Harsco, now based in Camp Hill, operated from the site, which has been largely unused for decades.
In 2018, CREDC purchased the property for $505,000. It then used $133,670 to perform an environmental assessment of the long-time industrial site, three-quarters of which was funded with a PA Industrial Site Reuse Program grant.
Charter School Denied
A proposed charter school that hoped to bring nursing courses to Dauphin County students has struck out for now.
In July, the Harrisburg School District denied an application for the Pennsylvania Nurses Middle College Charter School, which had plans to open in Midtown for the 2022-23 school year.
“I have carefully evaluated the record based upon the standard set forth in the charter school law,” said Janet Samuels, the state-appointed receiver for the district. “It is my conclusion that the application does not meet those standards and should be denied.”
This is the second time the proposed charter submitted an application. The first, in February 2020, also was denied.
The district received the second application in March 2021 and proceeded with two hearings.
According to the charter’s CEO Betsy Snook, the school would serve as a pipeline for students in grades 9 through 12 to continue on to obtain bachelor’s degrees and enter the nursing field. They also hoped to address the racial disparity in the nursing field by attracting and training minority students, she said. The district, she said, doesn’t have a program like this.
“I think it’s unfortunate for the Harrisburg School District students, and it’s unfortunate for our profession,” Snook said of the application denial.
The school would have been located in GreenWorks Development’s Midtown II building, alongside the PA STEAM Academy.
The proposed school was founded by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, which Snook also oversees, and the Nursing Foundation of Pennsylvania.
Home Sales Down, Prices Up
Transactions declined, but prices were much higher, as the area’s real estate association issued its home sales report for July.
For the month, 783 houses changed hands in the three-county region, compared to 884 the prior July, as the median sales price rose to $233,000 from $214,250 last year, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).
In Dauphin County, sales totaled 373 housing units, versus 405 units in July 2020. The median price, though, was up substantially—$220,000 compared to $180,000 last year, stated GHAR data.
Cumberland County experienced a similar trend, as 346 homes sold versus 418 a year ago. The median price rose to $256,000 compared to $233,250 last July, GHAR said.
In Perry County, sales declined by four units, to 47 homes, as the median price rose to $199,000 from $177,700 last year.
Houses also were selling quickly. “Average days on the market” dropped to just 15 days, compared to 37 days in July 2020, according to GHAR.
So Noted
Blake Lynch last month accepted a new position as senior vice president and chief impact officer for WITF, central PA’s public media organization. Lynch, who worked for over three years in community relations posts for the Harrisburg Police Bureau, will oversee community engagement, fundraising, corporate sponsorship and marketing.
Davis Jones has been named HACC’s new vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, according to the Harrisburg-based community college. She has worked in higher education for over 20 years, most focused on developing, restructuring and implementing student programs, according to HACC, which operates five campuses throughout central Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg University last month announced that it has opened a location in Panama. In a release, the university stated that, through the new school, it hopes to increase access to STEM education in Latin America. Separately, it announced that it would keep its tuition rates stable for the ninth consecutive academic year.
Messiah Lifeways last month named Karl J. Brummer as its next president, effective Sept. 13. Brummer previously served as senior vice president of the Mechanicsburg-based senior living nonprofit organization. He replaces Curt Stutzman, who is retiring after eight years in the post.
Michelle Felton was named last month as the new principal of Harrisburg High School, John Harris Campus. Felton has served in public education for 22 years, including 18 years in Harrisburg, most recently as associate principal in the high school, according to the school district.
Nyree’s Restaurant and Lounge is coming to downtown Harrisburg, in the location last occupied by Bridge’s Social Club. Restaurateur Joe Hobbs will serve his signature soul food dishes, with an over-30 club located on upper levels of the sprawling building, he said. Hobbs also operates Nyree’s, a restaurant on the west shore.
Porters House is opening a standalone restaurant in Uptown Harrisburg at 2001 N. 6th St. Owner Nadine Graham said that she plans to retain her stand in the Broad Street Market, where she started in 2012 serving Jamaican staples like jerk chicken, oxtail and Jamaican beef patties.
Steve Conway has been named vice president of Wormleysburg-based Pyramid Construction Services. Conway joined the company following the recent retirement of Ralph Klinepeter and the appointment of Michael Klinepeter as president.
In Memoriam
Bob Hostetter, 83, died on July 27, following decades of serving the greater Harrisburg community. Hostetter served for 43 years with the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, including as president and as a board member, was president/CEO of the Hostetter Group and was an ordained Presbyterian minister, serving several area congregations. For 14 years, he was vice president for community outreach and project development of new communications technologies at WITF, Harrisburg’s public broadcasting station. A long-time resident of Shipoke, Bob also served on numerous other nonprofit boards, many education- and arts-related. Memorial contributions in his honor may be sent to the Pine Street Presbyterian Church, the Central PA Food Bank, Downtown Daily Bread, the Rotary Club of Harrisburg or the Allied Arts Fund.
Changing Hands
Adrian St., 2452: J. Hernandez to A. Brenes & E. Richard, $80,000
Benton St., 628: C. Hoffman to T. Tran, $85,000
Berryhill St., 2318: E. & V. Zellers to A. Bouhach, $86,000
Boas St., 1824: A. Ramsey to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $64,000
Briggs St., 1510: J. & R. Johnson to M. Evans, $123,000
Chestnut St., 1621: B. & L. Young to A. Bouhach, $55,500
Chestnut St., 1629: P. Heisse to Bachaouch Properties LLC, $50,000
Croyden Rd., 2986: N. Peterson to K. Weldeghbrial, $93,275
Derry St., 2112: Tassia Inc. to A. Ebert & K. Shelhorse, $89,000
Derry St., 2337: T. Lakmana & K. Mulvani to T. Casteel & TLC Construction & Renovation LLC, $70,000
Derry St., 2347: D. Michalski to M. Lopez, $65,000
Edward St., 203: M. Gabler to D. & E. Rumsey, $150,000
Evergreen St., 17: S. Peliz to V. Morocho, $50,000
Forster St., 1825: G. Stoltzfoos to J. Reyes, $53,000
Fulton St., 1330: Harrisburg Commercial Interiors & Associates to P. Palmer & B. Cespede, $194,000
Geary St., 610: CPenn Patriot Properties LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $51,000
Graham St., 218: C. & D. Jeffries to A. & J. Grosh, $128,000
Green St., 1305½: B. Cott & T. Candori to J. Dubina, $110,000
Green St., 1406: S. Antola & L. Olenowski to Pine Asset Management LLC, $108,000
Green St., 1625: BCRA Realty LLC to B. Shoemaker, $208,000
Green St., 3107: J. Lambert & J. Cantley to L. & I. Voughs, $286,000
Green St., 3117: M. Means to K. Anoka, $160,000
Greenwood St., 2122: C. & S. McCullough to Alliance Estates LLC, $70,000
Greenwood St., 2255: D. & P. Wiedeman to Archie Group LLC, $221,000
Hamilton St., 422: M. Knouse to SRM Rentals LLC, $71,000
Herr St., 306: J. Galer to K. Haywood, $150,000
Herr St., 1001: Capital Region Economic Development Corp. to Herr Street Investments LLC, $505,000
Herr St., 1504: M. Diggs to D. Diggs, $35,150
Hoerner St., 135: D. Hargrove & D. Surbrena to SPG Capital LLC, $48,000
Holly St., 1834: M. Nichols to H. Vo & T. Thai, $68,700
Jefferson St., 2463: J. Fritchey & Equity Trust Company Custodian to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $150,000
Kelker St., 209: J. Johnson to Alkaline Properties LLC, $61,000
Kelker St., 425: D. & K. Steiner to S. Mitchell, $161,000
Kensington St., 2123: N. Raup to Cooperwink LLC, $70,000
Kensington St., 2200: K. & L. Avery to Lansanah Home Services Group, $60,000
Kensington St., 2330: A. Miller to Alliance Estates LLC, $72,000
Lexington St., 2622: Stoute Housung Inc. to EAM LLC, $45,000
Lexington St., 2704: Rockford Capital Group LLC to J. Amaro, $52,000
Linden St., 143: G. Hamm to F. Medina & Y. Morillo, $128,000
Logan St., 1714: L. Stokes to S. Albro, $132,000
Magnolia Dr., 2315: M. & J. Sullivan to C. DeBrunner, G. Klugh & Helsel Inc. RPM, $365,000
Manada St., 1903: M. & D. Graeff to Willow Mill Realty Holdings LLC, $75,000
Manada St., 1936: Rosemarie Williamson Trust to Obear Properties LLC, $90,016
Manada St., 1946: DHS Team LLC to Obear Properties LLC, $30,000
Market St., 1842: A. & R. Clark to Atlix Capital LLC, $145,000
Muench St., 313: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Awakening Enterprises LLC, $49,000
North St., 251, 255 and 226 Woodbine St.: Trip Aces 251 LLC, Trip Aces 255 LLC & Trip Aces 256 LLC to Inoma Properties East Shore LLC, $1,075,000
North St., 1818: Revive Our City LLC & E. Qureshi to T. Samuelson, $92,000
North St., 1938: S. Smith & R. Walters to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $50,000
N. 2nd St., 1113: Pharma Enterprises to Doyle Assets LLC, $100,000
N. 2nd St., 1507: Kabir Holdings Inc. to R. Rammouni, $115,500
N. 2nd St., 2139: D. Echnoz to 1910 Enterprises LLC, $185,000
N. 2nd St., 2141: T. & J. Perla to OK3 Investments LLC, $221,450
N. 2nd St., 2819: J. Nissley to N. Nero, $219,000
N. 2nd St., 3011: K. Boggan & G. Rine to E. & J. Mallory, $271,000
N. 3rd St., 700: R. & N. Mueller to B. Kenny & P. Christensen, $348,000
N. 3rd St., 1400: F. Karnouskos & A. Paliometros to Silverstone Enterprises LLC, $154,000
N. 3rd St., 1402: Karnouskos & Paliometros Partnership to SJL Rentals LLC, $231,000
N. 3rd St., 2208 & 2210; 1809 N. 2nd St.; 1611 Susquehanna St.; and 206 & 211 Hamilton St.: R. Valentine to SJL Rentals, $1,307,000
N. 5th St., 1536: A. Plowman to Harrisburg Rentals LLC, $30,000
N. 5th St., 2428: Neidlinger Enterprises to S. Goddard, $139,900
N. 5th St., 2629: Tassia Corp. to T. Smith, $90,000
N. 5th St., 2705: J. & J. Martinez to M. Suriel, $150,000
N. 6th St., 1012: Bethel African Methodist Church to Bethel Village Associates LLC, $303,000
N. 6th St., 2407: D. Boyle to M. Castro & E. Gonzalez, $34,000
N. 7th St., 1901: Staley North Seventh Street Properties LLC to Rustrum Realty Inc., $1,150,000
N. 15th St., 165: D. Deligny to T. Casteel, $36,000
N. 15th St., 1217: A. Plowman to PA Deals LLC, $100,000
N. 17th St., 1212: T. Herbster to C. Marietta, $85,500
N. 18th St., 41: S. Selimovic to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $69,000
N. 19th St., 28: N. Lindsey to House Cash LLC, $40,000
N. Front St., 1411: L. Rutherford to J. Robinette & A. Batz, $75,000
N. Front St., 1417: L. Rutherford to J. Robinette & A. Batz, $350,000
Norwood St., 913: G. Neff to D. Pietz, $69,500
Peffer St., 523: W. & A. Fluellen to Home for the Friendless, $85,000
Penn St., 904: J. Santarsiero to D. Moore & K. Williams, $120,000
Penn St., 918: M. & K. Beyer to S. Rudman, $130,000
Penn St., 1933: J. Hunter to K. Durkin, $170,000
Reel St., 2625: CPenn Patriot Properties LLC to J. Rodriguez, $47,000
Reel St., 2636: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to A. Olson, $117,500
Reily St., 107: R. Valentine to SJL Rentals, $1,307,000
Regina St., 1600: J. & L. Hendricks to El Trio Propertys LLC, $267,500
Rolleston St., 1205: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. & M. Hicks, $114,995
South St., 107: C. Stetler to K. Arnold, $135,000
S. 12th St., 1517: A. Early to O. Treasure, $92,500
S. 13th St., 435: F. & P. Harden to Alliance Estates LLC, $103,000
S. 14th St., 435: Anpat LLC to 1214 Baily Street LLC, $75,000
S. 17th St., 1040: Q. Viet to C. Samuel, $148,000
S. 23rd St., 602: D. Lee to S. Colbert, $82,000
S. 25th St., 600: B. Krulatz to D. Pham, $50,000
S. 25th St., 622: E. Buckwalter to C. Grant & M. Rinaldi, $75,000
S. 26th St., 615: K. & M. Blomerus to S. Ramos, $129,000
S. 26th St., 625: D. & C. Orsinger to KAB Rentals LLC, $65,000
S. 27th St., 638: A. Arosemena & J. Stoddart to R. Behrendt, $80,000
S. 27th St., 703 & 707: B. Lukwago & C. Solinas to B. Wilson, $103,000
S. Front St., 317: A. & K. Thornton to W. Zdazinsky, $170,000
S. Front St., 329: M. Ball to T. Dilldine, $182,000
State St., 234: Harrisburg Buildings & Grounds Co. to State YMCA of Pennsylvania Inc., $250,000
State St., 1730: Next Generation TC FBO Parvez Akhter IRA to JMR Ventures LLC, $56,500
Susquehanna St., 1710: M. Stauffer to K. Stein & G. Messina, $134,900
Susquehanna St., 2122: TST Properties LLC to SPG Capital LLC, $45,000
Vine St., 113: D. & K. Walker to C. Friedel, $115,000
Walnut St., 1322: Ausy Properties LLC to M. Baez & R. Disla, $60,000
Walnut St., 1808: Aumuller Enterprises Inc. to P. Carcione & C. Aumuller, $120,000
Walnut St., 1904: R. Rammouni to D. Boyle, $32,500
Woodbine St., 215: J. & P. Bruno to Ramsey Rhoads Group LLC, $185,000
Harrisburg property sales for July 2021, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
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