Harrisburg Names New Officials
Harrisburg has two new top officials, replacing recently departed city employees.
Gloria Martin-Roberts, a former City Council president, last month became the interim director of the Building and Housing Development and Economic Development Department, following the departure of former Director Dennise Hill.
Additionally, Harrisburg recently hired Joel Seiders as the city engineer, filling a position that was left vacant when former engineer Dan Snow departed in March.
Martin-Roberts will retain the interim position until Harrisburg hires a new director, she said. In her role, she will help administer federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for affordable housing projects, as well as federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
She previously served as a Harrisburg council member for eight years and as council president for two years. She has also held positions as the director of prevention in the state’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the director of preventative health programs in the state’s Department of Health, the chief operating officer at Hamilton Health Center and as a workforce development and drug and alcohol consultant.
“Building and housing and economic development are things I’ve been consistently involved in,” Martin-Roberts told TheBurg. “These were major priorities for me.”
Seiders, a Perry County native, began as city engineer on May 20. He previously worked as a PA bridge manager for Camp Hill-based Volkert, Inc., as a civil engineer consultant for the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and as a civil engineer consultant for PennDOT, among other positions.
Seiders said that he took the position to help make a difference in the city and to bring together his various engineering experience and skills into one role. His priority is to continue ongoing road projects and promote additional safety improvements, he said.
Hill, the former housing department head, became the most recent Harrisburg official to resign in recent months, following the departure of Snow and of city Business Administrator Dan Hartman.
School District Seeks Superintendent
The Harrisburg School District last month named a temporary superintendent while it searches for a new top official.
Receiver Dr. Lori Suski appointed Dr. Marcia Stokes, the district’s chief financial officer, as acting superintendent, following former superintendent Eric Turman’s resignation.
Turman announced in May that he would step down and take a position as superintendent of Central Dauphin School District.
Stokes will fill in as acting superintendent starting July 1, until the district finds someone to fill the role.
The district shared that it will accept applications through July 8, expecting to appoint a new superintendent in August.
According to a statement, the district is looking for a candidate who has an aptitude for working in a culturally diverse environment and has skills in school finance and budgeting.
“Harrisburg School District appreciates Eric Turman’s leadership during his tenure with the district,” Suski said, in a statement. “We look forward to beginning our search for a well-rounded candidate who will work collaboratively with the receiver, elected school board and community and keep our students’ academic success at the forefront of their work.”
New Bicycles, Stations in Harrisburg
Harrisburg has some shiny new bikes, providing an inexpensive, accessible and healthy way to get around the city.
SusqueCycle, Harrisburg’s bike share program, announced that it has upgraded its bike inventory, replacing 60 bicycles with brand new ones and donating its old bikes to local nonprofit, Recycle Bicycle.
SusqueCycle, which is operated by Tandem Mobility and administered by Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, is in its second season, with 10 stations in Harrisburg and one in Hummelstown.
“The idea is to give people in and around Harrisburg an inexpensive and healthy way to get around,” said Steve Deck, executive director of the commission.
The organization recently upgraded bicycles to newer models with more comfortable seating and sleeker designs for a better, easier ride, Deck said.
SusqueCycle is also adding new stations, including one at the TransitPark lot at 10th and Market streets, with another one set to be installed near the state Capitol at Commonwealth and North streets.
Additionally, the new bikes include a GPS system that tracks riders’ routes to gain data for future planning and to see where bike lanes and bike facilities are most needed.
Recycle Bicycle will donate the old bikes that are in good condition to residents in need and use parts of the more worn bikes to build new ones.
“Harrisburg is a great biking city,” Recycle Bicycle founder Ross Willard said. “And a lot of people can’t afford a car, so we help them get an affordable, sustainable basic transportation method.”
Home Sales, Prices Higher
Harrisburg-area home sales and prices both popped higher in May, according to the latest report on the market for previously owned houses.
For the three-county region, 616 houses sold compared to 533 in May 2023, as the median sales price increased to $284,950 from $264,000, said the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).
In Dauphin County, 300 houses sold in May versus 258 in the year-ago period, as the median sales price jumped to $265,000 from $234,200, GHAR stated.
Cumberland County had 275 home sales, up from 240 a year ago, as the median price rose to $314,900 from $299,950, according to GHAR.
In Perry County, 33 houses sold, an increase of two homes compared to the prior May, as the median price increased to $285,000 from $217,841, GHAR said.
The pace of home sales was steady in May, as “average days on market” held at 25 days year-over-year, GHAR stated.
So Noted
Harrisburg has hired city-based Alexander Building Construction Co. to serve as construction manager for the rebuilding of the Broad Street Market’s brick building, which was partially destroyed in a fire last July. City Council narrowly reversed a prior vote in a move to support Alexander for the position.
Harristown Enterprises last month completed a streetscaping project for the SoMa (South of Market) district, the location of new retail shops and summer block parties. These improvements include permanent brick pavers, bike racks, planters, bollards, logos and, as a centerpiece, a massive, lighted “Welcome to SoMa” sign.
Imaginary Friends has debuted as the newest attraction in Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. Two shows will run throughout the summer, thanks to owner and production designer Bill Kassay and a troupe of puppeteers and performers.
Julia Mallory last month cut the ribbon on her new studio, Ten Oh! Six, located at 1006 N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg. Her new studio will showcase some of her art and the apparel and paper goods that she creates and sells, as well as serve as a creative meeting place for the community, she said.
Karen Roland last month was named senior vice president of marketing for Members 1st Federal Credit Union. Most recently, Roland served as an associate executive vice president with State Employees Credit Union (SECU) in North Carolina and, before that, held executive roles with both Members 1st and PSECU.
Lidl last month debuted its newest area store, located at 5125 Jonestown Rd. in Lower Paxton Township. Lidl, which began as a small grocery store in Germany in the 1970s, now has around 12,000 stores in over 30 countries, including locations in York, Lancaster and Reading.
TheBurg won 26 total awards, including the Sweepstakes award, in the 2024 Keystone Media Awards, an annual contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation. TheBurg won awards in many categories, including for reporting, column writing, illustration, page design and photography. Assistant Editor Maddie Gittens won the special Distinguished Writing Award, a single, statewide award that honors high achievement in the craft of news writing.
Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) last month moved its offices to the third floor of Strawberry Square in downtown Harrisburg. For the past 40 years, TCRPC was located in the Veterans Memorial Building on the first block of Market Street. The move was required due to the sale of that building and plans for its conversion into apartments.
Veterans Outreach of Central Pennsylvania has cut the ribbon on its tiny home village, which will house homeless veterans in a riverfront location in south Harrisburg. Veteran’s Grove includes 15 tiny homes and a community center and will function as a transitional living community for men and women who are homeless and in need of assistance.
Winding Hill Park North in Upper Allen Township last month unveiled a Celebration of Nature—a new sensory garden that contains a variety of plants, each targeting a specific sense. The site features different kinds of flowers, plants and shrubs, as well as berry plants and fruit trees, among other elements.
Changing Hands
Bailey St., 1237: C. Peralta to A. Griggs, $95,000
Barkley Lane, 2519: T. Truong & K. Ngo to Richmond & Richmond LLC, $126,000
Bellevue Rd., 1902: D&L Development Group Inc. to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $120,000
Bellevue Rd., 2007: SPG Capital LLC to R. Suriel, $170,000
Benton St., 516: P. Goodman to N. Eras and M. & E. Ordonez, $175,000
Boas St., 257: R. Lowery to M. & J. Rivino, $200,000
Briggs St., 1912: C. Shomper to B. & V. Doan, $102,000
Brookwood St., 2462: R. Kumar to J. Dodson, $124,000
Chestnut St., 2045: Q. & C. Hazelton to R. Bravo, $169,900
Emerald St., 520: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to Mau Properties LLC, $100,000
Evergreen St., 11: Meridian Realty Holdings LLC to Golden Triangle Investment LLC, $80,000
Evergreen St., 32: D&L Development Group Inc. to PACC HBG 2 LLC, $120,000
Forster St., 412: D&D LLC to A&N LLC, $260,000
Green St., 1930: I. Bailey to T. Lewis, $280,000
Green St., 2138: Round Rock Investments LLC, SHG Investment Fund & Chad Gallagher LLC to G. Weaver, $230,000
Herr St., 1625: A. Tumer to C. Smith, $158,000
Hummel St., 240: Tri County HDC Ltd. to L. Roth, $124,900
Hummel St., 242: Tri County HDC Ltd. to T. Adekola, $124,900
Hummel St., 244: Tri County HDC Ltd. to S. Nahomy, $124,900
Hummel St., 341: G. & B. Hoerner to M. Bonetti, $77,320
Kelker St., 638: Buonarroti Trust to B. Jarkow & R. Reuveni, $90,885
Lenox St., 1901: B. Bentz to Cheema Ranvir LLC, $325,000
Logan St., 1933: V. Pillich & G. Cruz to RKE Investments LLC, $55,000
Logan St., 2431: J. & J. Austin to G&W Rentals LLC, $65,000
Maclay St., 249: R. & D. Requa to Dreams2Reality Services LLC, $215,000
Market St., 305: L. & D. D’Antuono to 305 Market Pizza LLC, $280,000
Muench St., 202: PD Estate Properties LLC to D. Leaman, $133,000
Mulberry St., 1924: J. Dukes & R. Sumpter to M. Abapoli, $139,900
Nagle St., 106: J. O’Handly to T. Edwards, $80,000
North St., 1934: O. Blanco to Cofield Group LLC, $110,400
North St., 1942A: B. Wargo to J. Pavana, $63,000
N. 2nd St., 1631: J. & K. Morgret to Green Street Properties Ltd., $170,000
N. 2nd St., 1801: S. Basore to A. Danks, $250,000
N. 2nd St., 2321: Central PA Buyers LLC to Elite Remodeling Realty LLC, $117,000
N. 3rd St., 3028: C. Jones to L. Reapsome & A. Labs, $205,000
N. 4th St., 1418: A. Manana & S. Morel to A&W Homes LLC, $117,000
N. 4th St., 2144: Saheeb & Inez Affordable Homes LLC to Mau Properties LLC, $71,000
N. 4th St., 2215: K. Torres to Prime Realty Solutions 4U LLC, $76,000
N. 5th St., 1600: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to C&C Homes LLC, $110,000
N. 5th St., 2524: B. Debeljak to A. Louis, $175,000
N. 5th St., 2705: M. Suriel to F. Zaman, $210,000
N. 5th St., 3118: Willowscott Investments LLC to J. Millard, $145,000
N. 6th St., 3103: K. Malinoski to A. Couch, $164,000
N. 6th St., 3129: E. Ewing to MS AM Properties Inc., $135,000
N. 6th St., 3140: M. Kennedy to TKO Rental LLC, $95,000
N. 7th St., 1010: Pennsylvania State University to Harrisburg School District, $3,100,000
N. 12th St., 47: E&K Homes LLC to Wright Restoration Properties LLC, $91,000
N. 13th St., 126: S. Samuel & K. Lucas to C. Teel, $125,000
N. 15th St., 517: J. Sherman to Golden Triangle Investment LLC, $65,000
N. 15th St., 1521: R. & L. Ravenel to D. Baylor, $50,000
N. 16th St., 1004: C. & S. Orellana to K. de Estevez, $169,000
N. 17th St., 53: L. Malik to J&V Investment LLC, $150,000
N. 18th St., 47: T. Paul to Cooper Hawk LLC, $76,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 401: A. Witte to C. Wood, $230,000
N. Front St., 2743: Alternative Rehabilitation Communities Inc. to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $250,000
N. Summit St., 116: T. Johnson to M. Sacasari, $80,000
Park St., 1822: 1822 Park LLC to J. Bailey & M. Wright, $58,300
Penn St., 2132: M. & W. Eisenstein to E. & A. Ho, $84,000
Pennwood Rd., 3208: L. Harris to S. Morris, $180,000
Reel St., 2468: D. Boyle to F. Solorin, $60,000
Revere St., 1618: A. & R. Burgos to E. Mejia, $140,000
Rolleston St., 1243: V. & J. Athens to Equitable Builds LLC, $90,000
S. 12th St., 1516: D. Dhahir to P. Diaz & J. Sanchez, $155,000
S. 13th St., 36: 513 South Shippen Street to NM Penn Group LLC, $270,000
S. 16th St., 564: M. Dones to S. Arzuaga & D. Ware, $90,000
S. 16th St., 922: R. Haines & D. Siegel to Landaff Enterprises LLC, $150,000
S. 17th St., 600: South Seventeenth LLC to 791 Flory Mill Road LLC, $3,556,000
S. 18th St., 8: Kabir Holdings Inc. to T. & H. Hoto, $165,000
S. 24th St., 628: A. & M. Medina to Central PA Buyers LLC, $117,000
S. Cameron St., 425: Queen Street LLP & H. Sugarman to D. Tran, $150,000
State St., 1915: Sego Realty LLC to C. Anderson, $275,000
State St., 1924: CLR Holdings LLC to H&K Rental Properties LLC, $645,000
Susquehanna St., 1737: L. Reapsome to H. Pham, $182,900
Vernon St., 1433: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $51,000
Vernon St., 1435: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to Val de Vie Estate Investment LLC, $51,000
Vernon St., 1513: J. & C. Peters to C. Monje & E. Shirk, $130,000
Walnut St., 1804: Tender Loving Care Health Care Services LLC to Briony Spaces LLC, $151,000
Wiconisco St., 505: Divine Nest LLC to A. & S. Glick, $410,000
Woodbine St., 237: Penn Properties LLC to J. & J. Amway, $250,000
Woodbine St., 344: PA Deals LLC to C. Risser, $130,000
Zarker St., 1913: Bedrock Capital Management Inc. to C. Foltz, $52,000
Harrisburg property sales, May 2024, greater than $50,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
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