Illustration by Rich Hauck.
September is here, and, yes, that means we have to kiss summer good-bye.
Like many others, you may be adjusting to the grim reality that it’s time to put away the beach ball and pick up the time sheet.
Your editor also had some time away this summer, and we’ll get to that in a bit. But, first, I thought that we should catch up on some important local news—things that flew a bit under the radar or may have been forgotten somewhere in the middle of that second margarita.
Two-Way 2nd
“Multimodal Collaborative Project.” Have I already put you to sleep? I hope not because behind this dense phrase lies a series of infrastructure projects with the potential to truly transform Harrisburg.
In July, the nonprofit called Impact Harrisburg released nearly $5.5 million, half to the city and half to Capital Region Water. Combined with a match from PennDOT, this money is slated for road (and utility) improvements that could undo some of the tremendous damage wrought in the 1950s, when the state turned charming neighborhood streets into forbidding freeways—making Harrisburg both less livable for residents and easier to flee for workers.
Most importantly, the money allows the city to begin the process of returning N. 2nd Street, from Forster to Division streets, to two-way traffic. Mayor Eric Papenfuse told me that preliminary work would begin next year, followed by actual construction, he hopes, in 2018.
The money would fund related improvements to N. 6th, N. 7th and Division streets, both to handle additional traffic and to make those roads more pleasant and pedestrian-friendly. A chunk of the money also would go to repaving much of N. 3rd Street, a project slated for next year once the utility work is done, and towards making a dangerous section of Berryhill Street safer for pedestrians.
TheBurg has long advocated making 2nd Street in Midtown/Uptown two-way as a vital step in revitalizing Harrisburg, reintegrating neighborhoods and returning this major thoroughfare from commuters back to residents.
Papenfuse wasn’t all smiles over the actions of Impact Harrisburg. He wanted the money that went to Capital Region Water to pay off the city’s loan for the recently completed streetlight project, with the savings then used for repaving neighborhood streets. In his opinion (though not CRW’s), opportunity lost.
Bar Stays Open
Papenfuse also wasn’t wild about county Judge Andrew Dowling’s order that forced the city to issue a business license to the Third Street Café, a Midtown bar that the administration has targeted for closure. Dowling found the city’s argument against the bar (that it attracts crime) to be weak and said, in any case, that state regulation trumps city restrictions for businesses that hold liquor licenses.
So be it. I’ve previously argued that the Third Street Café has a detrimental impact on the quality of life, the redevelopment and potential safety in the heart of Midtown. In my view, those things remain true. However, I can’t disagree with Dowling that city did not present a strong case for closure.
Dowling’s decision, though, is not stopping the redevelopment of one of the most forlorn commercial streets in Harrisburg, one with tremendous potential. Last winter, Zachary Nitzan purchased the block’s two largest historic buildings—the former home of Midtown Paint & Hardware and the former Volunteers of America building—and he spent much of the summer restoring them. One will house his high-end, custom-design rug business, and the other will be divided into two renovated storefronts, returning the building to its original format. Pass by, have a look and smile.
It seems that 3rd Street will have to rise on its own, without the help of the heavy hand of government (that is, unless the city’s long-shot appeal works). In other words, it will have to come back in the way that forsaken blocks in many other cities have—slowly, by risk-tolerant people with vision and patience.
Cut the Tape
Fortunately, Harrisburg has a number of such risk-tolerant people, as this past summer saw the completion (or near completion) of several important projects.
Downtown, Harristown began signing leases for the Flats at Strawberry Square, the first of its three apartment projects in the immediate area. Several blocks away, a few intrepid European investors brought a couple of desolate blocks of N. 2nd Street back to life, opening expansive restaurants called Capital Gastropub (the old Ceoltas) and the Bridge’s Social Club (the old Quarter).
Across Forster Street, WCI put the finishing touches on its renovation of the historic Harrisburg Moose Lodge at N. 3rd and Boas streets. The ground floor is the new home of the co-working outfit, Startup, and the upper levels feature high-end apartments.
Speaking of redevelopment: I spent part of my summer in Portland, Maine, which (like vacations I’ve written about before) provided me with no end of inspiration for things we could do here.
Like Harrisburg, Portland is a small, historic city that had to remake itself following industrial decline. It’s further along in the process, having succeeded in playing to its natural strengths: charm, walkability, waterfront, seafood, tourism and all-things craft.
I was especially struck by a former industrial area, which has been rezoned and repurposed. Where there once were warehouses full of boxes and forklifts, you’ll now find tourists sampling craft beer, sipping small-batch spirits, eating gourmet food truck fare (I had something called “Japanese street food”) and listening to musicians. And I thought to myself—Cameron Street!
The transformation of Cameron has already begun, pioneered by Appalachian Brewing Co., now joined by Midstate Distillery. With their open spaces, high ceilings and rock-solid build, the structures there are ideal for the new urban industry—craft, artisanal, hand-crafted anything—with a little concrete, noise and ductwork no deterrent to foodies, beer snobs, wine geeks and bespoke fans (in fact, it may be an attraction).
Lucky for us, Cameron Street—from the Farm Show complex to the incinerator—is loaded with exactly this type of building. Any takers?
Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.
