Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

September News Digest

Harrisburg Targets Dumping

Harrisburg is taking additional steps to fight illegal dumping in the city.

Last month, the city said that it has hired additional public works staff, bringing the department total to 63 employees.

According to Dave West, the director of public works, more workers will allow the department to increase its illegal dumpsite cleanups.

The city also plans to install 12 cameras at illegal dumping “hot spots” around the city. According to West, the department has used a few cameras previously, which proved successful. However, the new cameras will offer better quality images, with about four times as many deployed.

West is hopeful that these will deter dumping.

“My belief is that the same word of mouth that says you can dump in Harrisburg is the same word of mouth that will say you can’t dump in the city,” he said.

The city can fine people who illegally dump up to $1,000, West said.

Just in July, sanitation picked up 7.23 tons of illegally dumped trash from 20 locations. So far in 2022, they’ve collected 49.58 tons at a cost to the city of $10,622. Crews devote time to cleaning up illegally dumped trash about four days a week, West said.

Typically, dumpsites are on commercial properties, and crews may find anything from couches to pianos to mattresses and wood. West said that he believes that the dumping comes from both people living outside and inside the city.

Residents can call Harrisburg’s hotline at 3-1-1 to report illegal dumping.

“We have to continue to keep the city clean,” West said. “It’s a very large issue here.”

 

Signs Warn Trucks from Bridge

Harrisburg last month announced that it had installed new signage, in partnership with PennDOT, to stop trucks from driving beneath the rail bridge on Front Street.

At least several times a month, trucks get stuck beneath the low-clearance bridge in Shipoke, near the UPMC Harrisburg Hospital.

The new signs are at the intersection of Front and Chestnut streets, as well as near Verbeke Street. They state that vehicles over 12-feet, 6-inches in height are prohibited from traveling further.

To avoid getting stuck, trucks traveling south on Front Street should turn onto Forster Street or the Harvey Taylor Bridge, Market Street or the Market Street Bridge, or Chestnut Street as a last possibility, according to the city.

With the new signage, the city expects enforcement to increase, said Matt Maisel, city communications director.

The use of the word “prohibited” gives traffic enforcement more safe, legal grounds to fine drivers who find themselves stuck under the bridge, he said. Under state law, drivers can be fined up to $500.

“We needed something more visual to drivers that indicated this was prohibited to travel,” Maisel said. “Having a sign which explicitly states that going any further is prohibited, we hope will stop drivers from going any further.”

 

Bike Share Program Set

Harrisburg-area residents soon will be able to rent a pair of wheels at spots around the city.

The SusqueCycle Regional Bike Share will roll into Harrisburg, providing another method of transportation for residents and visitors to the city.

“It’s going to be really exciting,” said Lauren Weaver, a planner at Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC), the catalyst behind the program.

A previous bike share in Harrisburg ran from 2017 to 2020, organized by Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania and operated by Boston-based Zagster. The program ceased operations when Zagster closed in 2020, due to the pandemic. TCRPC has picked up the initiative and will use Michigan-based Tandem Mobility for its operations.

Initially, there will be nine bike share locations in Harrisburg. SusqueCycle will have bikes for rent at the following locations:

  • City Island
  • Market Square Transfer Center, downtown
  • Strawberry Square, downtown
  • State and 2ndstreets, downtown
  • North and Commonwealth streets, downtown
  • Broad Street Market, Midtown
  • Harrisburg Transportation Center (Amtrak station), downtown
  • 13th and Derry streets, Allison Hill

According to Weaver, TCRPC hopes to have the bike share up and running by early September.

Users can rent bikes for $1.50 per 30 minutes or purchase a subscription for around $25 to $30 annually.

In the future, TCRPC hopes to expand the service across other local counties.

The Harrisburg Area Transportation Study (HATS) and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation are partners in the bike share initiative.

 

Showers for Unhoused

The nonprofit, Amiracle4sure, last month began offering its office building on State Street in Allison Hill as a place for people experiencing homelessness to take showers.

“We need to meet people where they are,” said Marsha Curry-Nixon, the organization’s director. “We came into this business to serve, and this just creates another opportunity.”

Curry-Nixon, a member of the Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH), is partnering with other organizations affiliated with CACH to provide the shower service, “Showers on State.”

According to Randie Yeager, Dauphin County human services director and a member of CACH, the need for showers has been exacerbated by the pandemic, when some nonprofits that provided shower services closed or reached maximum capacity.

Within its building, Amiracle4sure, a re-entry program, has two showers and several bathrooms that can be used. Anyone in need of a shower is welcome to come to the office, located at 1735 State St., Curry-Nixon said. They are open on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays, from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Curry-Nixon expects that the facility will service around 15 to 20 people each day. Towels, soap and other showering items are provided.

In addition to showers, CACH offers snacks and drinks. There also is a laptop for checking emails and an electronic device charging station. Amiracle4sure will also wash clothes for those in need.

Currently, CACH, along with Dauphin County and the city, is weighing a proposal to turn the long-vacant Paxton Fire House in Shipoke into a showering and service center for the city’s unhoused. According to Yeager, they are still seeking funding and an organization that can manage the facility.

For now, “Showers on State” will assist in providing what Curry-Nixon described as a basic need for residents.

“I want to put action behind words,” Curry-Nixon said. “You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.”

 

Apartment Project Approved

A mixed-use building project planned for downtown Harrisburg has the go-ahead to proceed with construction.

At a legislative session last month, Harrisburg City Council approved a land development plan for the five-story residential and retail structure at 512-514 N. 2nd St. The resolution passed with a vote of 6-0, with council member Dave Madsen recusing himself due to a conflict of interest.

Developer Derek Dilks plans to demolish the two dilapidated buildings that currently sit on the property and build a new, 5,000-square-foot building with first-floor retail space and seven apartments above.

According to Dilks, his company will construct six one-bedroom units and a penthouse suite on the top floor. Rents are expected to range from $800 a month to $1,900 a month for the penthouse.

The project received approval from the Harrisburg Architectural Review Board in 2021 for its contemporary design.

 

So Noted

Dave West has been rehired as Harrisburg’s director of public works. West held the position until late last year, when he retired. He re-assumed the job after Mayor Wanda Williams dismissed his replacement, Nate Spriggs.

Girls on the Run has a new office, leasing about 3,000 square feet of space at 123 Enola Dr., Enola, from City Limits Realty. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to inspiring girls to be healthy and confident, using an experience-based curriculum that integrates running.

Harrisburg Academy announced that its Primary Years Programme has received full authorization by the International Baccalaureate Program (IB). The authorization affirms that the academy’s curriculum meets the high, internationally recognized IB standards for students from preschool to grade five, according to the Wormleysburg-based school.

Harrisburg Coin Club will celebrate its 60th annual coin show this month at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Harrisburg. About 45 coin dealers from 11 different states are expected to attend the Sept. 16 to 17 event. For more information, visit www.harrisburgcoinclub.com.

 

Changing Hands

Argyle St., 43: L. & E. Keefer to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $47,900

Berryhill St., 1315: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to R. O’Connell, $137,500

Berryhill St., 1321: M. & G. Medaglia to M. Serpe, $85,000

Berryhill St., 1409: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to A. Sigorelli, $136,250

Briggs St., 1504: A. Almonte to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $57,000

Brookwood St., 2172 & 2170 Getty’s Alley: R. & Y. Barros to G. Pluyer, $95,950

Clark St., 2713, 2723, 2729, 2731 & 2733: J. & S. Tang to Luce St Warehouse LLC, $195,000

Cumberland St., 209: M. & C. Ritchey to M. Ballinger, $169,900

Derry St., 1153: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to H. Watarai, $129,995

Derry St., 1625: R. Dirocco to D. Boyle, $49,000

Duke St., 2520: H. Barka to A. Biessar & S. Gharib, $45,000

Elm St., 1644: D. Boyle to M. Martinez, $50,000

Emerald Ct., 2460: A. Plaza to M. Owusu, $130,000

Forster St., 1917: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC and T&E Property01 LLC to RA Love Homes LLC, $149,900

Forster St., 2006: N. & L. LeGrand to A. Cooksey, $140,000

Fulton St., 1421: J. Robinson to C. Geary, $102,000

Fulton St., 1939: P. Sisemore & K. Hugo to D. Gunter, $120,000

Grand St., 933: E. Thomas to A. Wooditch & I. Jordan, $162,000

Green St., 1016: T. Duszak to Streatery LLC, $135,000

Green St., 2243: W. Jackson to VRAM Holdings LLC, $57,000

Green St., 2309: G. Dutan to C. Rosario, $155,000

Hunter St., 1617: MLP LLC to S. Scott, $52,500

Kensington St., 2109: S. Chatman to J. Hutchinson, $125,000

Kensington St., 2304: Tassia Corp. to D. Boyle, $55,000

Kensington St., 2327: PA Deals LLC to Lansanah Home Services Group LLC, $69,900

Lewis St., 200: VRAM Homes LLC to A. Buell, $192,500

Lexington St., 2624: A. Naoui to D. Boyle, $43,000

Lexington St., 2726: S. Marouf to T. Mallard, $84,999

Maclay St., 243: Trip Aces 243 LLC to BLTN Properties LLC, $100,000

Mercer St., 2431: J. Alibrio to Lynn & Ryan Investment Properties LLC, $60,000

Naudain St., 1420: D. Hather to A. Perias & J. Ballinas, $54,000

North St., 1911: NJR Group LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $95,000

N. 2nd St., 1704: R. & A. Allan to C. White, $225,000

N. 2nd St., 2229: P. & C. Ambrose to M25 Capital Investments LLC, $229,900

N. 2nd St., 2537: N. Banting to M. Strickler, $300,000

N. 3rd St., 2230: C. & J. Dellmuth to C. O’Leary, $65,000

N. 4th St., 2148: NA Capital Group LLC to S&O Investments LLC, $52,500

N. 4th St., 3312: B. Yonkin to K. Bertin, $170,000

N. 5th St., 2652: PI Capitol LLC to M. Lopez, $165,000

N. 6th St., 2017: K. Masood to Mahalo Mart LLC, $500,000

N. 6th St., 2642: K. Hugo to E. Weaver, $65,000

N. 6th St., 3129: A. Brown to E. Ewing, $114,500

N. 14th St., 14: S. Shaunte & Habitat for Humanity to Y. Rojas, $99,000

N. 16th St., 26: K. Wansley to J. Mabu, $75,000

N. 16th St. 83: J. Tettah to El Gamwo LLC, $40,000

N. 16th St., 521: J. Gulbin to 523 N 16 Street LLC, $55,000

N. 16th St., 1105: N. Gutierrez to R. Jimenez, $125,000

N. 17th St., 709: A. Lee to JAF Group LLC, $50,000

N. 18th St., 44: M. & I Ripa to Concrete Rose Beauty Co. LLC, $107,000

N. 20th St., 34: S. Chambers to J. & M. Thompson, $100,000

N. Cameron St., 1007 & 1021 and 1105 Herr St.: F. & E. Karnouskos and DF Herr LP to DF Herr LP, $740,000

Penn St., 1309: Keystone Properties Solutions LLC to Next Level Opportunity LLC, $64,500

Penn St., 1508: C. Bury to Z. Bricker & E. Serre, $200,000

Penn St., 1721: L. Myers to Z. Paul, $155,500

Penn St., 1922: H. Shonk to A. Hibbard, $190,000

Penn St., 2114: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Chappel, $119,995

Radnor St., 551: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to J. Tabacco, $220,000

Regina St., 1721: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to D. Airhart, $144,995

Regina St., 1814: D. Ionni to D. Santos, $58,000

Rolleston St., 1244: Whitestone Development LLC to JHK Properties LLC, $100,000

Rudy Rd., 2221: Top Notch Homes LLC to V. Perry, $240,000

S. 2nd St., 316: A. Radford & N. Towne to M. Russell, $120,000

S. 12th St., 1527: L. Robinson to M. Rostad, $84,000

S. 15th St., 320: R. Gashi to J. Abdi & I. Asbaa, $85,000

S. 16th St., 9: M. Santiago to D. Vigilante, $80,000

S. 16th St., 20: Vogelsong Investment Properties LLC to 2020 Real Estate Ventures LLC, $40,000

S. 25th St., 708: D. & Y. Aquayo to B. Gordon, $128,000

S. Cameron St., 43, 59 & 105: 99 South Cameron LLC & D. Piccoli to 2017 Real Estate Corp. LLC, $100,000

State St., 1406: Aish Partners LLC to J. Hamilton, $100,000

State St., 1928: L. & E. Keefer to Ruell Rentals LLC, $179,900

Swatara St., 2109: Great Row LLC to Swatara St LLC, $58,000

Swatara St., 2411: W. Allen to IUGNAP Investments LLC, $175,000

Sycamore St., 1807: R. & V. Thompson to Z. Hailu, $90,000

Tuscarora St., 119: J. Kaldy to S. Evina, $180,000

Verbeke St., 232: Afterkey Property Solutions LLC to M. Meyer, $194,500

Vernon St., 1407: Jimruz LLC to D. Boyle, $45,000

William St., 1423: P. Bayer to Stoute Housing Inc., $42,000

Harrisburg property sales, July 2022, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

 

 

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