Rob Lawson

As a lifelong resident of Harrisburg, I’ve seen many changes in my 50 years.

During this time, our city has experienced several crises: the flood of ’72 when I was born, the Three Mile Island partial meltdown, the incinerator debacle of the late ’90s, and now the COVID-19 pandemic. Each era had significant effects on residents’ ability to earn a living wage and care for their families. The aftermath of these citywide incidents still detrimentally affects us today—our housing stock, job possibilities, and our quality of life in the city. So as a city, what do we do? We have a unique opportunity to rebuild our city infrastructure and provide much needed job opportunities for residents by dealing with the severe decline of our housing stock. Let’s discuss how we have dealt with housing and how we move forward.

Before Mayor Steve Reed, the city was essentially insolvent. During the Reed era, the city’s financial outlook was restored. We had businesses moving into the city and a thriving downtown. However, time would show that Mayor Reed was really a magician. During the Reed administration, there were visible downtown improvements, but a lack of investment in our neighborhoods.  Abundant low-cost properties attracted investors from all over the country. I became a mortgage broker and real estate investor during this time.  And times were great–until they weren’t. We learned that much of the Reed magic was due to musical chairs financing and fuzzy math.  When the music stopped, residents were left holding the bag. The cost seemed insurmountable. Back in insolvency, we became a ward of the state. After many years and four mayors, something special happened.

On March 7, 2023, after over 20 years, the city finally retired the debt associated with the incinerator debacle of the late ’90s.With the end of this oppressive debt and the current influx of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Harrisburg can address some housing issues with tangible dollars. The ARPA funds were designated to help reverse the effects of COVID on our communities. The pandemic laid bare many societal ills, and the housing crisis in our city rose to the top. With drastic job loss and a moratorium on evictions, we were on borrowed time to find a real solution.

As an eternal optimist, I see hope for our city. In the ’70s and ’80s, Harrisburg’s movement toward self-empowerment was inspirational. The late great Nipsey Hustle, along with many investors and entrepreneurs across the nation, assert that it’s time that we bought back our blocks. To deal with the continued housing crisis affecting our residents and crippling our city, I’m proposing the Harrisburg Buy Back Our Block Initiative.

With the funding mentioned, we have the chance to fight poverty and address a damaged housing infrastructure through rebuilding and owning our housing stock.  For many decades, real estate speculators from all over the country have bet and lost on their efforts to make their riches with Harrisburg real estate. And when they lose, they leave–discarding homes that eventually fall into disrepair and decay, many times occupied by unwitting tenants. The properties become eyesores, fire hazards and a drain on community morale. They are the physical manifestation of hopelessness.

It’s time that we buy back our blocks from out-of-state investors who are in over their heads.  As we buy these properties, we must engage with the untapped talent living in our city’s border by employing underutilized carpenters, plumbers, roofers, maintenance workers and electricians.  We can bring neglected properties back on our tax rolls while putting cash in the hands of our residents.

Using our city’s human resources to revitalize and renovate will have exponential effects. People tend to spend money where they live. New workers will provide a cash influx to small businesses within the city. Restaurants, barbershops, clothiers, hardware, grocery and other industries will benefit.

We need a real plan that centers our residents to power our city administration’s pledge of $8 million towards affordable housing. We can also commit the savings from the retired debt for an additional $8 million yearly to keep investing in the people of Harrisburg.  Once you pay off a debt, you should commit the savings to investing in yourself.  I propose that we commit to investing in each other. A one-time infusion of cash is great, but let’s make this sustainable. Let’s buy back our blocks to invest in our residents and this great Capital City.

Rob Lawson
Harrisburg City Council Member

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