Harrisburg Retires Debt
Harrisburg is getting closer to paying off its once-staggering debt load, following a milestone payment last month.
In September, the city made an $8.4 million installment, its final payment on general obligation bonds dating back 25 years.
This payment to the Debt Service Fund at the Bank of New York Mellon was the last of $125.6 million debt, including interest, on 1997 series D and F bonds initiated under the administration of former Mayor Steve Reed.
“I can’t say enough about the work done by our financial team to get the City of Harrisburg one step closer to being entirely debt-free,” said Mayor Wanda Williams. “This is a major, celebratory moment for all of us.”
Since 1998, the city has paid off this debt with money from its annual general appropriations budget. Without the debt payments, Harrisburg will have around $8 million additionally each year that does not need to go towards servicing that debt, according to the city. That money, the administration says, now can go towards city services.
Harrisburg still has about $20 million remaining in general obligation bond debt to pay off to bond insurer Ambac Assurance Corp. According to City Controller Charlie DeBrunner, the city expects to pay off that debt by the end of the year.
“It is a goal for the entire city to enter 2023 without any debt,” he said. “We have a few additional items we need to take care of, but after today, we can finally start to see some real positive results for the city, and the cash flow is going to be phenomenal.”
According to Matt Maisel, the city communications director, at the end of July, the city had $40.7 million in reserve funds in the bank, some of which could go towards retiring the remaining debt.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting on since I was first elected to City Council and we started restructuring this debt,” Williams said. “People told us we’d never be able to get the city out of debt. To think we’re now in a surplus, this was always my goal for the people of Harrisburg.”
2nd Street Conversion Imminent
A major Harrisburg road project is expected to convert to a two-way street later this month.
In September, the city announced that it expects to convert N. 2nd Street, from Forster to Division streets, from one-way to two-way traffic in early October.
Originally, Harrisburg planned to make the switch from Maclay to Division streets last summer, followed by the rest of the corridor, from Forster to Maclay streets, this fall.
However, now the entire corridor will go two-way at once.
According to Matt Maisel, communications director for the city, the Maclay to Division street portion of the project is largely done. Additionally, the Forster to Maclay street section of the project is ahead of schedule, he said.
Because both portions of the road will be finished within weeks of each other, city engineers decided to transition the entire roadway to two-way traffic at the same time, instead of staggering the switch, Maisel said.
N. 2nd Street, originally a two-way street, was made into a three-lane, one-way road during the 1950s. The conversion back to a slower, two-way street began in May 2021 and is part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative to improve road safety and eliminate pedestrian fatalities.
CRW Agrees to Mitigation Plan
Harrisburg’s utility authority has approved a long-term plan intended to significantly reduce pollutants flowing into area waterways.
In late August, the Capital Region Water (CRW) board of directors voted unanimously to accept changes to a prior agreement that details a course of action to improve the quality of local waters, including the Susquehanna River.
Specifically, the agreement outlines projects that CRW will undertake over the next decade so that the city’s sewer infrastructure will capture at least 85% of system flow during wet weather.
“This is a very good thing,” said board chair Marc Kurowski. “It helps us to find a path to get through, over the next 10 years.”
The goal, Kurowski added, is not just to meet, but to exceed, the 85% capture rate. In 2021, CRW reported a capture rate of just 43% during wet-weather periods.
Like in many older cities, much of Harrisburg has a combined sewer system that handles both wastewater and stormwater flowing to its treatment plant. When it rains, the system is easily overwhelmed, sending untreated water directly into area waterways, including the river.
In 2015, CRW agreed to a partial consent decree with several governmental agencies—the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection—to begin to address the problem. The board’s recent approval represents a key step in finalizing that agreement.
According to CRW, the mitigation plan includes various types of projects, such as system repairs, rehabilitation and replacement.
For instance, this fall, CRW expects to re-start the $17 million rehabilitation of the Front Street interceptor, which runs through about three miles of Riverfront Park.
In 2019, CRW began installing new pipe liner in the 108-year-old, 30-inch diameter main. The next phase, which will take about a year, will complete the project from about Seneca Street to the pump station in Shipoke.
CRW’s system improvement plan also includes the continued build-out of green infrastructure, which is designed to capture stormwater before it enters the sewer system.
The authority estimates the plan’s 10-year cost at about $200 million. In 2020, CRW imposed a stormwater fee to help pay for system improvements. It stands at $6.15 a month for most residential customers.
Downtown Building Plan Approved
A mixed-use building planned for downtown Harrisburg has the go-ahead to begin.
At a recent legislative session, Harrisburg City Council approved a land development plan for a 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.
Police Officers Sworn In
After a months-long selection process, the Harrisburg Police Bureau has several new officers joining its ranks.
Mayor Wanda Williams and Police Commissioner Thomas Carter swore in seven officers last month, acknowledging the important, yet difficult role the new hires were stepping into.
“I’d like to welcome the seven new officers on a career that is so satisfying,” Carter said. “Policing isn’t easy. It’s becoming harder, but they answered the call.”
The new staff brings the complement of officers in the bureau to 136, according to Deputy Chief Dennis Sorensen.
The new officers include:
- Nathan E. Carr
- Tyler J. Glunt
- Ernell R. Harley
- Andrew K. Jones
- Zachary A. Mateer
- Michael T. McDevitt
- Jakob C. Werner
Additionally, officer Anthony Cummings was promoted to detective at the swearing-in ceremony, which was held at Whitaker Center.
The new officers will complete six months of police academy training before starting with the bureau. Two have already begun training at HACC, and five soon will start training with Temple University.
“It feels good,” said McDevitt, of his swearing in. “It’s a relief after a long process.”
At the ceremony, Williams spoke about the responsibility of the officers to serve the community and the city’s expectations for their conduct.
“The journey starts today, and we are watching in the city of Harrisburg,” she said. “We hold our police to the highest standards of excellence. We cannot wait to see the officers you soon will become.”
Home Sales Dip, Prices Up
Sales slowed but prices continued to climb in the latest report on previously owned homes.
For the three-county region, 734 homes sold in August, versus 810 in August 2021, but the median sales price rose to $260,000 from $235,500 in the year-ago period, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR).
In Dauphin County, 341 houses sold compared to 376 in August 2021, while the median sales price increased to $230,000 from $216,000, GHAR said.
Cumberland County saw 358 home sales versus 380 the prior August, as the median price rose to $300,000 versus $265,000, according to GHAR.
In Perry County, 38 houses sold, a drop of three, as the median price fell to $202,450, compared to $230,000 in August 2021, GHAR said.
Homes were selling relatively quickly in August, as the “average days on the market” dropped to 14 days versus 17 days the prior year, according to GHAR.
So Noted
Dan Davis last month was named president and CEO of Dillsburg-based Presbyterian Senior Living. Davis, previously the not-for-profit organization’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, succeeds James Bernardo, who is retiring at the end of the year.
East Shore Diner served its final meals last month, ending a 22-year run on S. Cameron Street in Harrisburg. PennDOT’s I-83 expansion project is displacing the family-run diner, as owners Bill and Dorothy Katsifis make plans to relocate to the Mechanicsburg area.
Good Brotha’s Book Café last month closed its Midtown Harrisburg location with plans to relocate into the McCormick Riverfront Library. Owner Stefan Hawkins said he would make the move once the library concludes an extension renovation and expansion project this fall.
The Menaker held an official opening last month, with officials cutting the ribbon on the 28-unit apartment building at Market Square in Harrisburg. The 116-year-old structure long housed offices before Harristown Enterprises last year began an extensive renovation and conversion to residential use.
Michelle Del Pizzo last month was named the new president of UPMC Memorial in York. She has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare field, most recently serving as vice president of operations for Penn State Health in Hershey, according to UPMC.
TheBurg was named “2022 News Organization of the Year” last month by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation. This was the second straight year that TheBurg has received this statewide recognition, which honors “overall excellence across all departments,” according to the foundation.
In Memoriam
Lois Lehrman Grass, a Harrisburg native and long-time arts patron and philanthropist, died on Sept. 21, just days shy of her 91st birthday.
A ubiquitous presence in Harrisburg over many decades, Lois long supported a host of causes in Harrisburg through her leadership skills, fund-raising, volunteer activities and personal support. She was especially focused on initiatives involving the Jewish community, the arts and healthcare.
Lois was a visionary community leader, often at the forefront of initiatives that led to the creation of long-term community assets, including Jewish Family Service, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School (CASA). She was instrumental in the creation of the Aurora Club for people with developmental disabilities, as well as the Hamilton Health Center.
On a personal note, in recent years, Lois became a dear and cherished friend of TheBurg, offering her friendship, advice, support and words of encouragement. We will miss her greatly. Our staff would like to extend our deepest sympathies to her family, her friends and her loved ones.
To honor Lois’s memory, the family has asked that contributions be made to any Jewish, arts or healthcare organization of your choice.
Changing Hands
Allison St., 1510: P. Holubowski to B. Dilek, $61,000
Benton St., 520: L. Holmes to Y. Badillo, $145,000
Benton St., 609: J. Gillespie to K. Dearing, $115,000
Berryhill St., 1325: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to E. & B. Burns, $139,995
Berryhill St., 1510: San Pef Inc. to J. Zabala, $59,900
Bigelow Ct., 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 47, 48: G. Neff & M. Murphy to VAB Investments LLC, $2,750,000
Boas St., 228: E. Miller to A. Afolabi & R. Grant, $260,000
Brookwood St., 2450: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to Sheridan Property LLC, $134,900
Caledonia St., 1917: J. Gerena to R. Rodriguez, $140,000
Capital St., 1202: O. Levine & B. Brace to Y. Malone, $205,400
Catherine St., 1528: G. Ditty & Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to M. Eichinger, $65,000
Chestnut St., 1203: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to R. Seifert, $129,995
Chestnut St., 1916: JTA Consulting Group LLC to C. Innocent, $124,900
Derry St., 1203: Integrity First Home Buyers LLC to J. Araya, $139,995
Derry St., 1333: S. Costa to Paramount Sol LLC, $110,000
Derry St., 2511: A. Saunders to T. White, $75,000
Emerald St., 419: J. Lebo to D. Myers, $145,000
Forster St., 1919: A. Alicea to Y. Martinus, $60,000
Fulton St., 1717: D. Canty & D. Muncer to C. & M. Albert, $205,000
Fulton St., 1736: T. Suplizio to Fernandez Realty Group LLC, $165,000
Green St., 1507: W. Hoover to M. Lemon & F. Perez, $260,000
Green St., 1614: N. Foote & A. Schwarzl to J. Warren, $220,000
Harris St., 204: A. Hermany & T. Minnick to T. Burke, $220,000
Herr St., 1831: A&K Investments Partnership LLC to F. Martinez, $142,000
Holly St., 1912: L. Konrad to K. Paulino, $140,000
Jefferson St., 2406: A. Hodges to M. Guzman, $55,000
Kensington St., 2333: L. & M. Pompei to Alliance Estates LLC, $99,500
Logan St., 1717: J. & D. Baker to E. Van Dyke, $202,000
Maclay St., 524: 524 Real Estate Holdings LLC to Rivas Property Investments LLC, $80,000
Manor St., 125: D. Martin to E. & J. Beittel, $575,000
Market St., 1629: J. Gulbin to R. Armolt & E. Derenzo, $74,900
Market St., 1645: San Pef Inc. to VRAM Holding LLC, $143,000
Market St., 1903: W. Cajina to A. & R. Hart, $208,000
Market St., 1922: M. & S. Mejia to D. Avila & J. Mercado, $155,000
Mulberry St., 1934: McCoy Rentals LLC to PACC Homes & Development LLC, $51,000
Nectarine St., 428: J. Jiminez to H. Ramirez, $50,000
North St., 1934: D. Patterson to O. Blanco, $65,000
N. 2nd St., 403: 401 Partners LP to F. Clark, $435,000
N. 2nd St., 1929: E. & A. Anderson to L. Bernard & M. Kline, $225,000
N. 2nd St., 2243: D. Olmsted to R. Chang & A. Eng, $237,550
N. 2nd St., 2245: D. Olmsted to R. Chang & A. Eng, $237,550
N. 3rd St., 210: D. Bratic to CDA 210 LLC, $550,000
N. 3rd St., 1500: Evangelical Press Building LP & GreenWorks Development LLC to Pennsylvania Steam Academy Charter School, $8,000,000
N. 4th St., 1324: P. Little & Secretary of Veterans Affairs to R&K Realty Group LP, $73,500
N. 4th St., 2201: M. Baltozer to SJJR LLC, $80,000
N. 5th St., 2324: F. Preval to First Choice Home Buyers LLC, $49,000
N. 6th St., 2128: M. Koscina to Archie Group LLC & Head Huncho LLC, $55,000
N. 6th St., 2626: DL Weaver Enterprises LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $54,500
N. 6th St., 3229: C. Connolly to K. Perez, $140,000
N. 14th St., 1216: S. Mejia to T WY Enterprise LLC, $70,000
N. 15th St., 1321: Pietro Enterprise Inc. to D. Boyle, $55,000
N. 17th St., 44: Wofford Enterprises Ltd. to J. Marquez, $70,103
N. 17th St., 53: A. Shabalah to L. Malik, $150,000
N. 17th St., 612: A. & E. Jones to Fernandez Realty Group LLC, $112,000
N. 17th St., 1102: J. Martinez & T. Kobayashi to A. & P. Estates, $74,990
N. 18th St., 1010: T. Sangrey & A. Nurkiseva to Neidlinger Enterprises LLC, $87,000
Paxton St., 1001: DAP on Paxton LP to LIB Rentals LLC, $1,475,000
Peffer St., 429: City Limits Foundation to 1993 Holdings, $74,000
Penn St., 1413: J. Bircher to AON LLC, $86,500
Penn St., 1420: PA Deals LLC to S. Williams, $75,000
Reily St., 227: R. Mundy to J. & E. Hojnacki, $250,000
Ross St., 626: WiseChoice USA LLC to Casareal Developmenets LLC, $45,500
Rudy Rd., 1943: Homestead Property Investments LLC to S&S Property Management & Construction LLC, $58,000
Rumson Dr., 2929: J. Hummel & D. Hoover to M. Taveras & R. Melo, $119,900
Showers St., 624: Z. Einhorn & C. Brinton to F. & M. Sheehe, $159,900
S. 13th St., 409: P. Flores & C. Solazzi to State 1510 LLC, $140,000
S. 13th St., 1538: J. Alexander to S. Garcia, $71,000
S. 14th St., 913, 915, 919, 921, 923, 1001, 1013, 1015, 1017; 1411, 1413, 1415 1417 Randolph St.; 1412, 1416, 1418 Revere St.; 1411 Wayne St.; and 1006 S. 15th St.: Parks Real Estate LP to Edwin L. Heim Co., $1,650,000
S. 17th St., 316: First Choice Home Buyers LLC to D. Boyle, $46,500
S. 17th St., 922: A. Jacques to L. Ja & M. Ramly, $150,000
S. 18th St., 1225: K. Nguyen to N. Loh, $140,000
S. 20th St., 209A: M. & J. Allen to A. Velazquez & M. Albright, $70,000
S. 20th St., 614: Neidlinger Enterprises LLC to C. Shasha, $136,000
S. 25th St., 718: L. Ellis Jr. to M. Tschop, $148,000
S. 25th St., 732: E. Gekas to H. Alcantara, $76,000
S. Front St., 551: E. Saum to Ashkay Properties LLC, $95,000
State St., 1510: Shizzymac 717 Homes LLC to D. Vigilante, $100,000
State St., 1620: Silver Lining Holdings LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $60,000
Summit St., 29: R. Kabir to Ingle Services LLC, $56,500
Summit St., 31: R. Kabir to Ingle Services LLC, $56,500
Susquehanna St., 1324: G. Neff to G. Martinez, $120,000
Susquehanna St., 1723: J. Hirt to H. Dana, $160,000
Swatara St., 1912: N. Ortiz to E. & C. Ubaldo, $120,000
Swatara St., 2024: Great Row LLC to EBM Real Estate Holdings LLC, $54,900
Sylvan Terr., 127: Enterprise O LLC to M. Matthews, $64,000
Thompson St., 1613: J. Linc Holdings LLC to Porchtime Properties LLC, $40,000
Vernon St., 1407: D. Boyle to E&E Property Investment LLC, $45,000
Walnut St., 1315: Hershey RE Ventures LLC to D. Boyle, $41,000
Woodbine St., 239: Hoffman Properties LLC to J. Leiva, $111,000
Wyeth St., 1412: F. Frattarole to D. Martin, $162,645
Zarker St., 2044: J. Strain to A. Rahman, $55,000
Harrisburg property sales, August 2022, greater than $40,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.
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Memorial Park in Highspire was hopping on a steamy day in August, so hot that you could almost see the heat rising from the blacktop on the basketball court.
