Home sales, prices head higher in May in Harrisburg area

June 11, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

This house in Harrisburg recently sold.

Harrisburg-area home sales and prices both rose in May, according to the latest market report 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.

Harrisburg veterans housing project receives planning recommendation, board questions future of Greenbelt access

June 10, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Rendering of the Tunnel to Towers housing project. Photo courtesy of Tunnel to Towers.

A project to provide housing for veterans in Harrisburg is moving forward, despite lingering questions about future use of a portion of the Capital Area Greenbelt, which runs through the proposed project site.

On Monday, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation formally announced its proposal to build a “veterans village” in South Harrisburg for those who are experiencing homelessness, having received zoning approval from the Harrisburg Planning Commission last week. The zoning issues now move on to the city’s Zoning Hearing Board for consideration.

The organization, which has completed similar projects nationwide, shared its plans for Harrisburg on its website months ago, but has only recently begun working through the city approval process.

Tunnel to Towers would be one of three projects to address homelessness planned for S. Front Street, near the PennDOT building. In May, Veteran’s Outreach of Central PA cut the ribbon on “Veterans Grove,” a completed tiny house village, and Missouri-based Eden Village has also proposed a tiny home community for the unhoused.

Tunnel to Towers has proposed constructing a 64-unit apartment complex and 20 one-bedroom “Comfort Homes” on an 8.5-acre plot of land. The comfort homes will be 500 square feet and include a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, providing permanent housing for veterans and first responders.

There will also be support services for veterans, including job training, legal services, benefits assistance, education assistance, mental health support and counseling.

“No veteran should be homeless,” said Frank Siller, chairman and CEO of Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “They put everything on the line for us. Unfortunately, many veterans feel lost when they return after their service, and thousands become homeless. That is unacceptable.”

At a Harrisburg Planning Commission meeting on June 5, board members heard from the organization and asked questions about the future of the Capital Area Greenbelt, as the project would take place on the land that currently shares the trail.

While the land is private property, the Greenbelt Association has for years maintained written permission from the landowner to provide public access to the trail and has also provided maintenance to the area, according to Greenbelt Association President Doug Hill. Currently, access to the portion of the Greenbelt past PennDOT is restricted, and the city has provided an alternate route over the Sycamore Street bridge and down Cameron Street.

While the Tunnel to Towers officials shared that they have been meeting with the Capital Area Greenbelt Association, a conclusion has not been reached yet on the future use of the trail.

“This has always been private property, and the Greenbelt has been fortunate to use that. So, we want to see if we can continue that, compatible with the needs of the private property owners,” said Bruce Grossman, attorney for Tunnel to Towers.

Hill spoke at the planning meeting, sharing his proposal for a new route. Having seen Tunnel to Towers’ sketch plan for the project, he believes that the Greenbelt could continue on its current path, outside of the project’s proposed gated community, until reaching the parcel’s southern boundary, where it would continue around until reaching the bridge over the railroad tracks, connecting back to the Greenbelt trail.

“We are very much supportive of the Tunnel to Towers project,” Hill said. “The sketch plan that they’ve done, including its configuration and the configuration of the fencing, would be able to accommodate the Greenbelt.”

However, officials with Tunnel to Towers expressed concerns about security, saying that they believe drug use has been an issue along that stretch of the Greenbelt.

However, Hill contested the representation that drug use is a “rampant” issue and City Planning Director Geoff Knight said that any illegal activity would likely not be as much of an issue once the area is developed.

“I would venture that it’s probably safer down there than it is in downtown Harrisburg,” said Vern McKissick, a planning commission member. “I’m having a tougher time accepting that as the only reason that this can’t happen.”

In the end, the commission voted to recommend the variance and special exception for the project, but opted to slightly alter a condition in the document to strengthen the language to say that the applicant “shall coordinate” with the Greenbelt Association rather than “shall continue to coordinate.”

“The planning bureau feels very strongly that this really needs to be included in a final design, however that may happen,” said Geoff Knight, city planning director. “We recognize that this is private property as the applicant said, but at the same time, it’s also a critical more than a 100-year-old part of the city’s infrastructure.”

Tunnel to Towers will next need to get Zoning Hearing Board approval, then have its land development plan approved by the city.

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Hoop It Up Harrisburg 3×3 Street Fest to return to City Island

June 10, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

A previous Hoop it Up, photo curtesy of the City of Harrisburg

An upcoming tournament gives local basketball players a chance to enjoy the sport — and possibly earn a cash prize.

NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett’s national 3-on-3 basketball tournament is returning to City Island this summer on Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The Hoop It Up Harrisburg 3×3 Street Fest basketball tournament, a 3×360 Sports event, was last held in Harrisburg in June 2022 and is making a reappearance this year.

Registration is open to people of all ages and abilities. Both recreational divisions and pro-am teams are welcome, with recreational divisions capped at five players per team and pro-am teams at four players.

The winning pro-am team will receive up to $2,000 in cash, and additionally, the team will earn a bid to the Hoop It Up National Championship tournament held in November.

Up to 25 baskets will be set up on the City Island South Parking Lot, along with music, food vendors and other entertainment to be available throughout the event.

Drew Dawson, founder of 3×360 Sports, is a Harrisburg native and the force behind Hoop It Up 3×3’s return to Harrisburg.

“Although basketball and my career have taken me out of the area, I grew up here and Harrisburg will always be home to me,” Dawson said. “I have great memories and made lifelong relationships participating in similar community events while growing up here.”

A rain date for the event is scheduled for Sunday, July 28.

To register, visit this link. All youth, adult and recreational divisions cost $195 to register, and pro-am teams cost $250. For more information about 3×360 Sports, visit their website.

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Nominations for Harrisburg Young Professionals’ “20 in their 20’s” awards open

June 10, 2024 | by Kawena Jacobs

It’s time again to honor the Harrisburg area’s young achievers.

Nominations for the Harrisburg Young Professionals’ (HYP) sixth annual “20 in their 20’s” awards are now open until July 1 and can be submitted by any member of the public.

According to the submission website, nominees must be between the ages of 20 and 29 as of Dec. 31, 2024, and must live or work in Cumberland, Dauphin or Perry counties.

HYP uses the award to “celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of young professionals in the Harrisburg area who are making significant impacts in their communities and industries.”

The subsequent awards ceremony will be Nov. 12, and event tickets will go on sale Sept. 1, with all proceeds going towards HYP.

Nominations can be made here.

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New signage, planters, bike racks mark completion of SoMa streetscape project

June 7, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda

The new “Welcome to SoMa” sign

If you’ve been to downtown Harrisburg lately, you may have noticed a few decorative additions.

On Friday, Harristown Enterprises announced the completion of the SoMa (South of Market) streetscape project, featuring a number of newly installed ornamental and practical elements along S. 3^rd Street between Market and Chestnut streets.

“We’re thrilled to have this project completed, and we look forward to welcoming more new tenants to the neighborhood,” said Brad Jones, president of Harristown, which oversaw the work. “The improvements that have been made will only enhance the public’s use of this dynamic block.”

These improvements include permanent brick pavers, bike racks, planters, bollards, logos and, as a centerpiece, a massive, lighted “Welcome to SoMa” sign.

The sign repurposed the frame of the Walker’s Art & Framing sign, which stood for over 40 years on the block. Walker’s left the location in 2022, replaced by the Found Collab retail shop.

Round bollards (foreground) and planters (background) are part of the streetscape project.

The streetscape project was financed, in part, by a grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, according to Harristown.

New shops have been popping up on the block in recent years and, last year, the UPMC Health Sciences Tower at Harrisburg University opened on the corner of Chestnut Street. In addition, Harristown and Sara Bozich Events have hosted monthly block parties and special events on the block for several years.

Upcoming June SoMa events include:

Juneteenth SoMa Pop-Up inside the former Bricco restaurant, 31 S. 3^rd, Thursday, June 20, 5 to 8 p.m.
3^rd in the Burg Juneteenth Block Party with YPOC and HYP, Friday, June 21, 5-9 p.m.
“Budget Bash” SoMa Block Party, Thursday, June 27, 6-10 p.m.

“This project has been a long time coming, and it’s great to have it finished in time for our summer block party series,” Jones said.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

June 7, 2024 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

A past Proudly PA! Festival. Photo courtesy of Dauphin County.

It’s looking like sunny days and blue skies all weekend long in Harrisburg. If you’re looking for ways to enjoy the nice weather, look no further than our June issue of the magazine, which is packed with stories highlighting summer fun in our area. You may also find a little inspiration from our local news from this week, below.

The arts community in Harrisburg deserves more support and appreciation, argues our publisher, in his column. Without an organization dedicated to arts advocacy, the creative community faces a vacuum in leadership, advocacy, direction and funding, he says.

Bob’s Art Blog highlights three local artists who find inspiration in everything from color to nature to advocacy. Blogger Bob also previews some of their upcoming exhibits.

Community Corner highlights June’s special events in and around the Harrisburg area. For even more live music, theater and educational experiences taking place this month, check out our Happenings column.

Gamut Theatre’s “Comedy of Errors” brings local audiences a “ridiculously over-the-top” comedy, says our reviewer. The play is Gamut’s featured show for its summer “Shakespeare under the Stars” series, which brings free entertainment to Reservoir Park in Harrisburg.

Harrisburg announced this week that it would offer a co-application opportunity for nonprofits and other organizations looking to apply for Dauphin County’s annual gaming grant money, our online story reported.

Harrisburg appointed Gloria Martin-Roberts as the interim director of the city’s Building and Housing Department, filling a vacancy recently left by former director Dennise Hill, our online story reported. Also, Joel Seiders was hired as the new city engineer, a position that has been vacant since March.

Jackson Lick pool in Harrisburg is slated to open for the summer on June 12. Our online story reported. The pool recently received some much-needed painting, patching and repairs.

June concerts will bring a wide range of genres and sounds to the area. Find our columnist’s recommendations, here.

Juneteenth HBG will showcase Black history and culture through a week-long celebration, our online story reported. The festivities will include a concert, arts expo, Juneteenth Jubilee, and many other events.

Proudly PA! Festival will return to Dauphin County this weekend with entertainment, food and drinks, our online story reported. Additionally, the county has weekly summer movie nights planned.

Sara Bozich has a list of all the best events happening this weekend in Harrisburg. Find them, here.

Sycamore Homes, an affordable housing development in South Harrisburg, is slated to open in September, our online story reported. This week, the developers, Latino Connection Foundation and Fernandez Realty Affordable Homes, hosted a walk-through event to tour the building.

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Harrisburg’s Jackson Lick Pool to reopen for the summer next week, with some updates

June 6, 2024 | by Jolie Lloyd

Jackson Lick pool. File photo.

Three, two, one, cannonball!

Harrisburg’s Jackson Lick Pool on N. 6th Street will reopen for the summer season on Wednesday, June 12, after receiving some much needed TLC.

The city recently completed patching and repairing the aging pool using $55,000 that City Council allocated in April for the updates. At the time, Harrisburg officials said that the updates were necessary to be able to open for the summer.

In addition to the repairs, the Public Works Department is currently putting the final touches on painting the bathhouses.

The pool will be open throughout the summer on Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. each day. Admission costs $4 for adults and $2 for children.

Harrisburg’s second public pool in Hall Manor has been closed for several years, but is slated to be replaced and reopened in the coming years. In April, council approved using $8 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to construct a new pool in Hall Manor, which would likely take over two years to complete, city officials shared.

For more information, visit Harrisburg’s website.

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Juneteenth HBG to celebrate Black culture, freedom with week-long festivities

June 6, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Juneteenth 2023 concert. Photo by John Bivins Photography.

For Dr. Kimeka Campbell, Juneteenth is a time to showcase Harrisburg and the integral part that the Black community plays in the city’s progress.

She and the Young Professionals of Color-Greater Harrisburg (YPOC), of which she is the co-founder, will do that by highlighting Black history and culture through week-long Juneteenth celebrations.

“We want to showcase all that the city has to celebrate,” Campbell said. “Black Harrisburg has been integral to the success of Harrisburg since the beginning.”

YPOC’s fifth annual Juneteenth HBG celebrations kick off on June 15 and run through June 21, with a special Juneteenth Jubilee on the holiday itself, June 19.

Special events will include a Juneteenth Summit with keynote speaker Angela Rye, a Juneteenth Summer Vibes concert featuring Ghostface Killah and Jim Jones, a Black Arts Expo and a Cultural Arts Celebration at Narcisse Theatre downtown. Additionally, local youth can participate in a Juneteenth History Bowl and the community is invited to a special SoMa block party in collaboration with Juneteenth HBG.

The Juneteenth Jubilee is the focal point of the week, marking the holiday with Black-owned business vendors, family-friendly entertainment, kids’ activities and food trucks on City Island, from 12 to 5 p.m.

This year’s jubilee will be the biggest one yet.

“It’s a bigger collaboration with so many more folks so it’s really exciting,” Campbell said. “We are trying to model collaborative unity and what that looks like for real, because there are too many things that break people apart.”

The number of collaborative events and sponsorships this year makes Campbell especially hopeful and excited about not only the festivities, but also the recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday.

“I think people are taking us seriously this year,” Campbell said.

Juneteenth was designated a federal national holiday in 2021, recognizing the end of slavery in the United States, but has been long celebrated by the Black community.

Harrisburg itself has a history of being a crossroads for abolition and the Underground Railroad, Campbell explained.

“I strive to make sure that Harrisburg is connected to the national scene in that way,” she said. “So why highlight Harrisburg? Harrisburg was pivotal in abolitionism around the country.”

Through all of the Juneteenth events, Campbell hopes to highlight that history, celebrate Black culture and the nation’s progress and also discuss injustices that still exist and needed advocacy.

Campbell expects thousands of people to participate in Juneteenth activities during the week and encourages people to RSVP to events so they can get an accurate count.

For some events, such as the Juneteenth Summit and the concert, tickets must be purchased.

Juneteenth HBG events will take place on the following days:

Juneteenth Summer Vibes Concert—June 15, XL Live, tickets are $15
Juneteenth Press Conference—June 17, K. Leroy Irvis Building, Harrisburg
Black Arts Expo—June 17, WITF
Juneteenth History Bowl, June 17, WITF
Juneteenth Summit, June 18, Harrisburg University (keynote address will be at the Forum Auditorium)
Juneteenth Jubilee, June 19, City Island
Cultural Arts Celebration, June 20, Narcisse Theatre
SoMa block party, June 21, on S. 3rd St., between Market and Chestnuts streets

For more information about Juneteenth HBG and to get tickets, visit their website.

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Harrisburg accepting co-applicants for county gaming grant funds

June 6, 2024 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg’s MLK City Government Center

The city is trying a new way to help local organizations get county grant funds.

Harrisburg announced on Thursday that it would offer a co-application opportunity for nonprofits and other organizations looking to apply for Dauphin County’s annual gaming grant money.

Every year, the county receives millions of dollars from the Hollywood Casino at Penn National to award locally. For 2024, the county allotted $8.9 million to around 200 projects.

The application process for the 2025 gaming grant funds opened on June 1.

For those interested in receiving a letter of support from Mayor Wanda Williams and co-applying with the city, the city is accepting applications through July 8.

In the application to the city for support, groups will need to share information about their organization, as well as their purpose, mission, vision and how they plan to use requested grant funds.

Once completed, the form will create an auto-generated letter, which will be reviewed by Williams, who will review each letter and organization on a rolling basis. Approved letters will be signed by Williams, then scanned and sent to the county. The city will let applicants know by no later than July 31 if their letter has been accepted or rejected.

Gaming grant applications are due to the county by Aug. 15.

To apply as a co-applicant with the city for county grant funds, click here. For more information about the Dauphin County Gaming Grants, visit their website.

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Aphasia Impacts Communication, Not Intellect: 5 Ways Employers Can Help

June 6, 2024 | by THINK Capital Blue Cross

We may not have known the condition’s name, but many of us have known – or known of – someone with aphasia.

Usually the sudden result of a stroke or brain injury (it can also progress gradually in rare cases), aphasia impairs a person’s ability to communicate and process language without impacting intelligence.

That makes it an enormously frustrating condition for the roughly 1 million Americans afflicted with it.

June is National Aphasia Awareness Month, and Dr. Jeremy Wigginton, Capital Blue Cross’ Chief Medical Officer, says it’s critical to understand that those with aphasia struggle to communicate, not to comprehend.

“Because people with aphasia may struggle with various avenues of communication – talking, reading, writing, accurately computing what they’re hearing – it’s easy to jump to the wrong conclusions about their cognitive ability,” Dr. Wigginton said. “Aphasia sufferers remain competent adults. They know what they want to say; they just can’t always find the words to say it. They’re not deaf; they just struggle sometimes to process what they hear.”

The Fetterman Example

Many well-known people, from actors Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone to U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, live with aphasia.

Fetterman, the junior senator from Pennsylvania, suffered a well-publicized stroke weeks before being elected in 2022, and it severely impacted his verbal- and auditory-processing abilities. When Fetterman began his tenure in Washington, he required accommodations and relied heavily on assistive technology for his Senate work: closed captioning devices, and audio-to-text transcription – primarily via a tablet – for help communicating during committee sessions.

Fetterman described his hearing issues as inconsistent; they’d worsen when stress intensified. At their worst, Fetterman said, it was like making out the garbled teacher’s voice in the Charlie Brown cartoons.

Stress does, in fact, worsen aphasia’s symptoms, making it harder to hear, speak, or understand.

Which is why Fetterman and three other senators, including fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, in late 2023 introduced a bill “to support national training, technical assistance, and resource centers, to ensure that all individuals with significant expressive communication disabilities” can access assistive technology in the workplace and elsewhere.

“I never thought about captioning before I had the stroke,” Fetterman told The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in October 2023, “and now I realize that I have to be an advocate for anyone with a disability to have the kind of technology that allows them to fully participate in society.”

Aphasia Accommodations in the Workplace

Workplaces may opt to take their cue from the Senate and assist employees with aphasia. The National Aphasia Association suggests:

Slow down employee’s work pace: It may need to change, temporarily or permanently, and the slower cadence also may help other employees process new information.
Use multiple forms of communication: Use hand gestures while speaking, or repeat by email the information from a meeting. Everyone benefits.
Create a quiet workspace: Noisy environments can increase challenges for those with aphasia.
Prepare co-workers: Educating staff about aphasia can help accommodate everyone’s needs.
Provide healthcare plans that assist with the recovery and rehabilitation that accompanies aphasia after strokes or brain injuries. Many Capital Blue Cross plans, for instance, cover a variety of necessary rehabilitative speech therapies and other support treatments for those with aphasia.

“Those with aphasia can continue to enrich the workplace and produce at a high level,” Dr. Wigginton said. “They just may require the proper rehabilitation, support, patience, and accommodation.”

THINK (Trusted Health Information, News, and Knowledge) is a community publication of Capital Blue Cross. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and news on the latest health and insurance issues.

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