Broad Street Market tops historic preservation priorities list for 2026

January 27, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

The Broad Street Market’s brick building mid-reconstruction on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

For the second year in a row, Harrisburg’s historic farmers market tops an annual list of “preservation priorities” for an area historic preservation group.

On Monday, the Historic Harrisburg Association presented its list of endangered historic structures in the Harrisburg area, naming the Broad Street Market as its top preservation priority for 2026.

“Because it’s so important to the community and to the metropolitan area and beyond, obviously, it’s our first preservation priority at this point,” explained Jeb Stuart, president of HHA’s board of directors.

The Broad Street Market’s 1870s-era brick building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, faced a devastating fire in July 2023. The partially-destroyed structure sat vacant for a little over two years before Harrisburg began the reconstruction process in the fall of 2025, which was complicated by a wall collapse in December.

The Broad Street Market’s brick building suffered a partial wall collapse in December.

“That has kind of set things back a ways,” Stuart noted Monday. “Hopefully the city will be more transparent and forthcoming about where the plans are and how they’re moving forward, but we can see the work is being done.”

He added that the brick building’s pop-up roof is being restored to match the original building’s design and that the city, in January, identified an unstable wall it needs to demolish and rebuild as part of the restoration process. The association sees the latter as a positive.

Reconstruction of the historic roof of Broad Street Market’s brick building as of Tuesday, Jan. 27.

“The fact that this work is being done, and that the architects have at least been able to determine that a part of the wall was bulging before it collapsed is a good sign they will hopefully be able to rebuild it,” Stuart said.

The portion of the brick building’s wall identified for demolition.

The association’s remaining four preservation priorities for 2026 include:

Former Bishop McDevitt High School, a 95-year-old, neo-Gothic brick building in Allison Hill that served as a school until 2012
William Penn High School, a shuttered, 100-year-old school building near Italian Lake
Balsley House, a dilapidated, Federal-style former grocery store, located beside Sawyer’s in downtown Harrisburg
Riverside Firehouse, a vacant, city-owned former fire station in Uptown that suffered a bell-tower collapse this past year

Stuart expressed concern Monday that the current owner of Bishop McDevitt has “unfortunately” painted a portion of the brick building white.

The painting of the former band room section of the building has caused people in the neighborhood to express concerns about the owner maintaining the building’s historic integrity, Stuart said.

“We have found that the owner is trying to do other things that may be inappropriate to the building,” Stuart added. “The city has shut down, from what we understand, further work. They have a stop-work order until certain code issues and other issues are resolved.”

The association named the preservation of the Harrisburg School District’s former vocational school, William Penn, as another top preservation priority.

The district proposed demolishing the school in 2023, but reversed course. After exiting receivership in June, the school board reviewed its slate of options for the property at a November special board meeting.

At this time, the future of the building remains unclear.

Stuart noted that Historic Harrisburg views the district’s apparent reluctance to sell the property as “an issue” standing in the way of any proposed reuse or restoration projects for the site.

Stuart expressed hope for another structure on the list, the Balsley House, located on N. 2nd Street in downtown Harrisburg. One of the oldest structures in downtown, and formerly a grocery store, he said Historic Harrisburg has hopes of seeing it repurposed into a retail location.

Lastly, he listed the Riverside Firehouse. The 1923 building, located in Uptown, suffered damage to its historic belltower due to heavy winds in November.

“It continues to suffer from deterioration,” Stuart said, urging the city to resolve a real estate title issue and push the property out to potential buyers who could restore the structure.

Historic Harrisburg’s annual “Watch List”

Historic Harrisburg also placed almost two-dozen buildings and structures on its “watch list” Monday.

These include:

Mira Lloyd Dock House, Front and Reily streets
Lochiel Hotel, 901 Shanois St.
Central Publishing House, 100 N. 13th St.
Former Chisuk Emuna Synagogue, 423 Division St.
Bartholomew & DeVout Mansion, 208 Hummel St.
Old State Police HQ/American Dream Diner at 2100 Herr St. (Susquehanna Township)
Meyers Mansion, 213 Front St.
Market Street Bridge
19th Street Armory, 1313 S. 19th St.
Cumberland County Railroad Bridge (connects Lemoyne and downtown Harrisburg)
Historic Peace Church (Hampden Township)
Donald Cameron Mansion, Front and State streets
Bishop Bridge, Cumberland and York counties
First United Methodist Church, Boas Street
Grace United Methodist Church, State Street
Former St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Vine Street
Harrisburg State Hospital
Paxton Firehouse, 336 S. 2nd St.
Camp Curtin Church, 2221 N. 6th St.
Atlas Building, 6th and Maclay streets
Walnut Street Bridge (connects downtown and City Island)
Captain John Gilchrist Homestead, Linglestown Road

Preservation Successes

Stuart also identified two preservation successes in the Harrisburg region: the Prospect Hill Cemetery Gatehouse, at 25th and Market streets, which has been restored after being hit and damaged by a car, and the Nauman Mansion, at 315 N. Front St., which is being transformed into apartments.

According to Historic Harrisburg’s executive director David Morrison, the organization has been creating annual “Preservation Priorities” for 20 years now and presenting them for roughly 10 with the goal of making the public aware of historic structures in need of preservation efforts.

Click here for more information on Historic Harrisburg.

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Dauphin County asks for resident input in comprehensive plan creation

January 27, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Dauphin County Administration Building. File photo.

Dauphin County is planning for the future.

The county announced Tuesday that it has begun drafting a long-term comprehensive plan that will guide land use planning for the next 10 years.

To aid in planning, the county is asking residents of all 40 municipalities to complete a brief survey to help determine public priorities.

The county’s planning commission will also host public meetings with local officials and stakeholders early this year. Those who are interested can find event information on the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission’s website and on social media.

Dauphin County Planning Coordinator Jerry Duke said that the input from residents will help set priorities and identify issues like housing, transportation, economic development, land use and environmental sustainability.

“It will also ensure that as we shape the Comprehensive Plan, it will reflect the community’s values and guide decisions that affect our growth and quality of life,” Duke said in a statement.

The plan is expected to be completed in 2027. Dauphin County creates new comprehensive plans every 10 years.

To take the survey, click here. For more information, visit Dauphin County’s website.

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Bob’s Art Blog: 1Q26

January 27, 2026 | by Bob MacGinnes

Don’t be misled from the above cryptic title…that’s a number one and not a capital “I.” I would never insinuate an IQ of 26…that is reserved for amoebae. Actually, they don’t have a brain but do respond to stimuli. I hope you do the same with this blog, which represents the first quarter of the New Year regarding art goings-on.

Jana MacGinnes, Bob MacGinnes and Carrie Wissler-Thomas

With January just about out the door, you can still catch the biannual “members only” show, “Figuratively Speaking,” at the Art Association of Harrisburg for two more weeks. “Members Only Jackets” (remember those from the mid-’80s?) are optional for viewing the exhibit. They predated the iconic fashion of “Miami Vice.” A bit of trivia: when we lived in Miami during that era, I sold NBC-TV the shoes for the new hit series at the Brass Boot in Bal Harbour Shops, an exclusive enclave for valet-parked South American tourists spending lavish sums of money on handmade Italian footwear. Among the locals, the Bee Gees’ wives were regular customers of our store. They even sent flowers to the hospital the day our daughter, Aubrey, was born. Life does have second acts. Jana and I feel blessed indeed as we are entering, at the least, Act 5 in our lives together.

The first quarter of the year can be humdrum across the board dependent upon the weather, but Bob’s Art Blog holds exciting happenings taking place later this week. In a month, relegated for recovery from the holidays the Red Rose City of Lancaster rolls out the red carpet hosting a show unlike any other.

On the cusp of Black History Month, owner/founder/curator Victoria Abadir’s Lancaster Art Vault spins the vaults tumblers to an opening night reception on Friday, Jan. 30. The exhibit, “Expressions of Strength: A Celebration of Black Art and Identity,” expertly blends art with poetry. A powerhouse lineup showcases two Harrisburg artists, King Prolifik and Reina 76. Joining them are Spencer Sinclair, Gabrielle Baker, Michael A James, Keisha Finnie, Tonya Engel, Isiah Bates and emerging artist, Morgan Scott. Merging the written word throughout the gallery’s walls weaves a spell of wonder when paired with thought-provoking works of art. As for the poets, they paint with the most imaginatively expressive words, getting to hear them jump off the page—”spoken word experience” is the icing on the top. Listen for rhythm, rap and rhyme from Le Hinton, Sir Dominique Jordan, Maria Thompson Corley, Khalisah Hameed and Jonathan Kedrock. In addition, Gabriel Angrand (AVG), Christopher KP Brown, Malia Burris, Danitra Tierra, Kirsten Lindemuth, Ruel Rahim, Beimnet Getahun and Shelby Wormley round out this eclectic baker’s dozen.

African drumming will be performed by Gerri McCritty, Dumas Thompson, Tyrell ‘Teetos’ Hoff and Marion CoCo Coleman, adding music and celebration to the evening’s festivities. Judging by this compendium of performances, the two-hour party will be a night to remember. Mark the date-this Friday…Lancaster Art Vault 100 N. Queen St., from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

“Sugar Shack” by Ernie Barnes at Lancaster Art Vault

Of special note: Complementing the exhibition is “Grandma’s Walls,” an intimate presentation on loan from the private collection of Beverly Smith, curated by the late Lenwood Sloan, a highly respected historian and cultural steward in the African American community. Featuring works by artists Ernie Barnes and Charles Bibbs. Both exhibits run through Feb. 28.

The Torch Is Passed at Carlisle Art Learning Center CALC

Cathy Stone and Emily Ashton of CALC

How does one begin to quantify a career in art at the highly regarded Carlisle Arts Learning Center over the course of 36 years in just a few paragraphs? It can be a daunting task. And yet now just-retired executive director Cathy Stone made it all look easy. Wearing so many hats at CALC, from art instructor to gallery curator to its chief executive in recent years, Ms. Stone took every obstacle as opportunity to make sure things ran smoothly, ensuring the bottom line came out on top. CALC is an active nonprofit art center in downtown Carlisle with its main focus on education and exposing all ages to the possibilities of art on every level. At its core, CALC has always been about community engagement. The essence of what Cathy brought to the institution is best illustrated in her sendoff party held just two weeks ago. Esteemed board members, both old and new, feted her with a retirement party for this auspicious occasion. The night featured tributes from many well-wishers, with a resounding, “Thank you, Cathy,” from everyone in the Carlisle community. That may sound like an exaggeration but isn’t. From that intimate gathering upstairs, we descended the steps to the opening night art reception downstairs to find the main floor teeming with wall-to-wall art enthusiasts. The Carlisle community at large always turns out for art events at the gallery. Lastly, Cathy handed off the baton of leadership to Emily Ashton, a North Carolina State University grad who is extremely well-equipped to carry the mantle of management. Emily is a seasoned senior leader with over a decade of experience leading high performing social impact teams. She is a skilled communicator and relationship manager. A fitting goodbye and welcome all in one night. Adieu to Cathy and to Emily, “Bon Jour!”

Members Only, “Figuratively Speaking” @ AAH

“The Thinning of the Veil” by Josephine Alexander and Michelle DiNicola

Let’s face it…everyone likes to see their work in the public eye, especially if you spent time working on its creation. Hence the popularity of “members shows” at art consortiums. The AAH rolled out the red carpet on its opening night to a packed house for a very frigid 3rd in the Burg. Early entrance gave us the opportunity to view 150 entries across mediums from paintings to sculpture, photographs to works on paper, without bumping into our neighbors. Curators Nate Foster and Alanna Barton put every artist’s best face forward in this latest addition. Making a yearly exhibit fresh and new can be a thematic challenge, but this duo brought clear eyes as the members did their part. In the end, everyone was as pleased as the punch served by Robert Potter, reception host. Prize juror was artist Earle Rock. As with any members show, there are perennial standouts like winners Josephine Alexander and Michelle DiNicola taking “Best of Show” for their stunning glass encrusted statuary, “The Thinning of the Veil.” Joining them are Anni Matsick, Jeff Wiles, Sanal Lester, DS Ingram, Ileana Rivera, Jeff Bye, Nicole Polanichka, Scott Meier, Ken Albright, Jeff Scorza and Deborah Williams. Rebekah Campbell took home honorable mention, and “Emerging Artist” was Wismy Faustin. The last “Figures” seen were “Live” as a picture was taken of us with the AAH’s CEO and president, the illustrious Carrie-Wissler Thomas.

Jim Mackey, The Woolly Woodsman in Dillsburg

Mixed media collage by Jim Mackey

There aren’t too many artists we would drive to Dillsburg for except the one-of-a-kind Larry Lerew. Add to that list Jim Mackey, who currently has a show at the new Dillsburg Area Public Library located at 204 Mumper Lane. Get off 11/15 S., make a left then put it in your GPS. The library itself is a work of art, especially its gorgeous grounds. The garden alone is worth the drive. Jim Mackey is an unabashedly unique artist who is self-effacing to a T. Modest and humble, he just goes about his business of creating great art like the “Woodsman” legend he has become, partly due to his penchant for hand-carving large wooden totems that are statement making. Once you have met Jim, you will never forget him. His persona is gnome-like in that he is clever, inventive and one who blends fey whimsy and hidden treasures, which hold meaning into his thought-provoking works. This exhibit showcases 10 of Jim’s works that run the gamut. They are a testament to time chasing down the dreams of an artist in search of El Dorado. This mixed media maestro manipulates the elements of found objects, shredded fabric, discarded newspapers, and cast- off parts in creating dynamic dioramas and surreal shadow box commentaries. Primitive and raw, they stimulate engaging conversation…the very essence of what art is all about.

NAACP Art Exhibit

Over in Lebanon County, don’t miss the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts’ First Friday event on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. The NAACP Art Exhibit is organized by Joyce Hansen and features the art of Bryan Hickman (King Prolifik), Reina 76, HAVE a ART, Vaughnbolino, Ryan Boddy and Myra Kitchen. The event also features live music by Luther Tyree and live painting by Have a Art. Light refreshments will be served. The Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts is located at 770 Cumberland St., Lebanon.

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Residents have until tomorrow to remove cars from city garages offered during storm

January 26, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

Clearing snow on State Street during Sunday’s storm.

City residents will need to remove their vehicles by tomorrow morning from parking garages made available during this weekend’s snowstorm.

Harrisburg issued an update on Sunday night that residents have until 8 a.m. Tuesday to remove their vehicles from Locust Street and City Island garages.

Park Harrisburg offered free garage parking beginning on Saturday evening before the snow hit on Sunday.

The City of Harrisburg lifted its snow emergency status around 4 p.m. Monday.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

January 23, 2026 | by TheBurg Staff

A Harrisburg High School wrestling team member and assistant coach pass off carpet being removed from Beahive Affordable Housing Outreach’s new property, as they volunteer on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Ready for the projected snow? As you stay cozy in the storm, catch up on what happened in Harrisburg this week. We’ve listed all our work below for you, from a story on where to find free garage parking during the big snow to the hearing this week in the ongoing lawsuit between Harrisburg mayor and City Council.

ACS Movement is a Camp Hill-based fitness studio that offers Gyrotonics in the Harrisburg area, our January magazine story reports.

Dauphin County Judge Jeffrey Engle, after an all-day evidentiary hearing Wednesday, will make a decision in the coming weeks on whether or not City Council was within its rights to defund salaries for several top city officials. Find our coverage of the hearing here.

Élevé Event Studio will open in the coming months in Midtown Harrisburg where Cafe 1500 once was, according to our online story.

Fit Abilities helps those with special needs focus on fitness, as seen in our January magazine story.

Harrisburg announced that there will be free garage parking available ahead of the forecasted snowstorm. Find the details here.

Harrisburg announced earlier this week that a demolition crew plans to raze a portion of a wall at the Broad Street Market’s brick building. Read more here.

Harrisburg University, in collaboration with Members 1st Federal Credit Union and PA’s auditor general, is running a financial literacy competition for high school students. It offers a $2,500 grand prize, according to our online story.

Logos Academy will host a school fair at Strawberry Square next month, giving parents and students a chance to explore schooling options around Harrisburg, our online story reported.

MLK365’s annual Day of Service brought out hundreds of volunteers, including Harrisburg High School’s girls’ and boys’ wrestling team members, to help with various projects across the city. Click here for more.

Our food columnist has the perfect sausage soup recipe for a cold January evening, as seen in our January issue.

Sara Bozich has consolidated the best events happening around town this snowstorm-fated weekend, including morning yoga at Boneshire Brew Works and an “Over 30 Dance Party” at Capital City Music Hall. For a full list, click here.

Urban Land Institute issued a new report on downtown Harrisburg this week that urged city stakeholders to de-emphasize office space and focus more on residences, small businesses and public spaces, according to our online story.

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Free Harrisburg garage parking available ahead of forecasted snowstorm

January 22, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Locust Street Garage

City residents can have some parking peace of mind during the projected snowstorm this weekend.

Harrisburg shared on Thursday that Park Harrisburg would offer free garage parking starting Saturday evening, as snow is expected to hit.

Residents can park for free in both the Locust Street Garage and City Island Garage, beginning at 5 p.m. on Jan. 24.

The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from 10 p.m. on Saturday to 1 p.m. on Monday, with a potential for six or more inches of snow in Harrisburg.

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Downtown Harrisburg should revitalize with less office, more residential, restaurants and retail, says report

January 22, 2026 | by Lawrance Binda

An empty N. 2nd St. in downtown Harrisburg

A new report on downtown Harrisburg urges city stakeholders to de-emphasize office space and focus more on residences, small businesses and public spaces.

On Thursday, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) released its “Technical Assistance Panel” (TAP) report, titled “Amplify Downtown Harrisburg,” created to help Harristown Development Corp. with a new strategic approach to revitalize downtown.

Downtown Harrisburg has been struggling since the 2020-21 pandemic, following the shift to remote work among thousands of office and state employees who once commuted daily into the state capital.

The report makes the following recommendations:

Accelerate office-to-residential conversions to meet growing housing demand and attract new residents.
Create a cohesive urban design plan linking the Capitol Complex, riverfront and Market Square through pedestrian-friendly streets and wayfinding.
Activate the riverfront and 2nd Street corridor with amenities, public art and retail to foster vibrancy.
Build a coalition of stakeholders to coordinate economic development efforts and implement a shared vision.
Launch a marketing and messaging campaign to celebrate successes and reshape perceptions of downtown Harrisburg.

The report underscored Harrisburg’s unique strengths—its scenic riverfront, historic architecture, and cultural assets—while acknowledging pressing challenges such as diminished foot traffic, underutilized office space and negative perceptions of safety. Downtown has the potential to be remade into a thriving residential hub supported by small businesses and enhanced public spaces, according to the report.

“We appreciate the great work of the ULI panel and all the important stakeholder comments and suggestions,” said Brad Jones, Harristown’s president and CEO. “This report can be an early tool to help inform the Harrisburg downtown master plan being formulated in partnership with Gov. Shapiro’s office and the downtown coalition being led by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC.”

The report was the result of an 11-member team from ULI’s Philadelphia District Council. The real estate and land use experts conducted discovery research, conducted stakeholder interviews, took a walk tour of downtown Harrisburg and met with Harristown officials to formulate revitalization recommendations and strategies.

Jones added that, despite downtown’s challenges, Harristown continues to invest in and redevelop the area. Recent projects include a senior living project at 112 Market St., a new entertainment venue at Coronet Park, the conversion of apartments to condominiums at 18-22 S. 3^rd St., and the proposed development of 90 more senior living apartments at 333 Market St., a former office building.

“The ULI TAP recognized that downtown Harrisburg has many of the right assets to be a thriving destination: historic architecture, picturesque waterfront, walkable streets, and the state Capitol as a magnificent backdrop,” said Danielle DiLeo Kim, principal, DDK Urban Consulting and the Downtown Harrisburg TAP Co-Chair. “The key is to leverage these assets with collaboration and urban innovation to bring social and economic vitality back to downtown Harrisburg.”

Click here to view the full ULI report.

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

January 22, 2026 | by Sara Bozich

Plan your weekend with my weekly list of things to do around Harrisburg and central PA!

What you’ll find below:

For something new: Katie Parla’s ‘ROME’ Cookbook Take Over Dinner at LUCA tonight; Cake & Cocktails Vintage cake decorating at Sweet Confections on Sunday

Worth noting: Social Hours at The Willows at Ashcombe extend this week (Thurs/Fri); The Bacon Brothers are in York

Things on my agenda this weekend: STEAM night, Baseball camp, dogsitting, SNOW?!

Thursday

Harrisburg Beer Runners A Warm Thursday at Wild Rabbit 3-Miler | Free | New Cumberland
Social Hours at The Willows at Ashcombe Mansion | Free | Mechanicsburg
Keystone Merge at The Grotto Community Center | Free | York
Katie Parla’s ‘ROME’ Cookbook Take Over Dinner at LUCA | $ | Lancaster
Germany, Austria & Alsace Wine Dinner at Restaurant Sidney | $ | East Berlin
Derek Avalon @ Sturges Speakeasy | Free | Harrisburg
Side of Yams at High Dive | Free | Harrisburg
CAPFILM: MEGADETH – BEHIND THE MASK at The Appell Center | $ | York
Open Mic & Jam at The Abbey Bar | Free | Harrisburg
Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band: A Springsteen Celebration at American Music Theatre | $ | Lancaster

Extras

Early Bird tickets are available for this year’s Plants + Pints — just $15 through Jan. 31! Get yours now.
Want to share an ‘extra’? Email Sara with interest!

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Harrisburg mayor, council face off in court over legality of defunded and “interim” positions

January 21, 2026 | by Maddie Gittens

Members of Harrisburg City Council, (from left) Rob Lawson, Ralph Rodriguez and Lamont Jones, exited the Dauphin County courthouse on Wednesday.

A Dauphin County judge is expected to make a decision in the coming weeks on whether or not City Council was within its rights by defunding salaries for top city officials.

During a lengthy evidentiary hearing on Wednesday, attorneys for council and Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams debated which powers each body has, following a tense budgetary process this winter.

Williams sued council earlier this month for its action to defund several top city positions as part of the 2026 budget. After council initially passed the budget, the mayor line-item vetoed amendments that council made to cut funding for the interim business administrator, project director for business administration/LERTA and the police bureau’s director of community engagement and relations. Council also zeroed out the city’s portion of funding for the interim director of building and housing and economic development. Following Williams’ veto, council overrode the vetoes.

In front of Dauphin County Judge Jeffrey Engle, Williams testified, as did Samuel Sulkosky, the previous interim business administrator who was terminated along with staff in the two other completely defunded positions. Board chair of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) Doug Hill also testified.

Much of Williams’ testimony regarded the understanding of her powers as mayor under the Optional Third Class City Charter, which Harrisburg adheres to. Williams said that she had the power to hire and fire personnel, while council serves as the legislative body.

This was the crux of Williams’ lawsuit against council, in which she said that council’s action “invades” her powers.

“This wasn’t a fiscal action,” Williams said during the hearing. “This was personal.”

Williams emphasized the importance of the roles in the city and that the business administrator role, specifically, is statutory and required under the city charter.

City council has explained previously that part of its decision to defund the two interim director roles was due to the fact that the appointees had not been approved by council.

Gloria Martin-Roberts was appointed as the interim director of building and housing and economic development in June 2024, and Sulkosky was made interim business administrator after council declined to affirm him in the role, which he had served in since October 2024.

According to the city’s code, the mayor can appoint an “acting” director, who can serve for 120 days before requiring council approval. However, both sides said that “acting” is not the same as “interim.”

Williams said that she was not aware of any provisions for appointing an “interim” director in the code, but said that she made the interim appointments “on the advice of my attorney, the city solicitor.”

Sulkosky, during his testimony, also noted that several previous mayors have utilized interim directors.

“This concept of ‘interim’ is imaginary,” city council’s attorney Casey Coyle told TheBurg. “It doesn’t exist in the law.”

Coyle explained that, because Williams is seeking equitable relief in a civil suit, based on the “unclean hands doctrine,” she should not receive that relief if she has engaged in misconduct.

Coyle said that the judge’s eventual ruling should clear up the practice of appointing “interim” directors and whether or not it is admissible.

“The hope is that we get clarity and that council is respected as a co-equal level of government,” he told TheBurg.

Referring to the other two defunded positions–the director of community relations for the police bureau and the project director for business administration/LERTA–Coyle said that, because they are not statutory positions, council could not be in violation of the code.

Council has previously stated that they defunded the project director for business administration/LERTA because they were dissatisfied with former director Jason Graves’ work and that the director of community relations for the police bureau position was redundant.

However, during her testimony, Williams maintained that by defunding the positions, council essentially fired the employees and rendered the positions unable to be filled.

“Why would anybody work for free?” she said.

Williams and Sulkosky also detailed their concern that essential city functions will be negatively impacted or interrupted without people in these roles. For example, Williams said that union negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police and AFSCME have stalled, because Sulkosky has previously worked on them, and grants are in limbo.

At the beginning of Wednesday’s hearing, Coyle attempted to get the suit thrown out, saying that none of those potential harms, due to council’s action, actually harm Williams herself and are speculative.

Coyle also said that the case may create a “dangerous precedent” that would threaten the separation of powers between the council and the mayor.

Engle overruled the objections, allowing witnesses to take the stand.

The third witness was Hill, who testified in relation to the ICA’s, a state-appointed financial oversight board for Harrisburg, evaluation of the 2026 budget.

Following the budget passage, the ICA released a statement generally approving of the new budget, but raising concerns over the defunded positions. During his testimony, Hill reiterated his concerns that the defunding of those positions could hurt the city, which is still coming out of financial distress, and limit the city’s ability to bolster economic development. Without a project director for business administration, and with the interim director of building and housing and economic development unable to do work outside of her federal responsibilities, he expressed concern that an economic development plan for the city would not get done.

“We believe it’s important to have those positions funded,” Hill said.

Council members Danielle Hill, Lamont Jones, Crystal Davis, Ralph Rodriguez and Robert Lawson were in attendance at Wednesday’s hearing.

Council’s side did not call any witnesses.

Engle adjourned around 3 p.m., saying that he wanted time to review the evidence, but that he wanted to address the matter as quickly as possible.

Engle gave both attorneys seven days to submit their briefs from today’s hearing, sometime after which, he would be expected to make his decision.

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The Next Level: Two friends plan to open luxury events studio in old Cafe 1500 space

January 21, 2026 | by Alexandra Jones

From left: Tiffiney Portee and Tina Hunter-Davis.

Two friends soon will open an events studio in Harrisburg, setting up in a key location along the 6th Street corridor.

Harrisburg residents Tina Hunter-Davis and Tiffiney Portee intend to co-own and manage their new events business, Élevé Event Studio, at 1500 N. 6th St., occupying the first-floor retail space of the 1500 Condominium building.

They plan to host wedding receptions, bridal showers and corporate gatherings at the more than 4,000-square-foot venue, which features an expansive dining area, flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows and a wrap-around bar.

The space’s in-house kitchen will allow them to cater such luxury events in-house, Hunter-Davis said. They plan to open in February or March, currently waiting on a retail license from the state and a zoning and occupation license from the city.

Portee emphasized that she hopes the business can be a space to elevate Harrisburg’s events scene.

“Harrisburg is an amazing place to live. I have no desire to live anywhere other than Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My goal is to see us elevate to the next level,” Portee said.

“We’re just hoping for the support of the community,” Hunter-Davis added.

Élevé Event Studio at 1500 N. 6th St.

Hunter-Davis and Portee have only been friends for three years, but describe their relationship as a sisterhood.

“We’re able to be transparent to each other,” Hunter-Davis said. “And if I have a weakness, she has that strength.”

Portee echoed the depth of their connection.

“I feel like I’ve known Tina my entire life,” Portee said.

As partners in business, they bring vastly different professional backgrounds to the table.

Hunter-Davis retired from a 33-year career with the state of Pennsylvania in March. She previously conducted investigations of people and businesses suspected of violating state tax laws.

“It kind of seasoned me for this particular job,” she said, noting the work required her to be very detail-oriented.

Portee, meanwhile, is an investor, a real estate agent (brokered by Joy Daniels), and already a business owner, who manages New Beginnings daycare on N. 3rd Street.

“This is a startup business. It’s right in my wheelhouse. It’s what I do,” Portee said.

She expressed interest in becoming business partners with Hunter-Davis—who started her own event planning company, Tina HD Designs, immediately after her retirement.

Hunter-Davis said the business was a spinoff of her longstanding hobby of organizing events for family and friends—and while she started with just this base for clients, she was not prepared for how quickly her hobby-turned-business began to grow.

“Every event I have, there’s three or four people that attend that event that call me,” she said.

She added she felt relieved to have Portee join her. After the pair rebranded and established Élevé in November, they began splitting up business tasks, making it more manageable.

“We balance each other out.” Hunter-Davis said.

A table at Élevé Event Studio.

As luck would have it, the pair stumbled upon the old Cafe 1500 space when Hunter-Davis was working an event in the same building at the restaurant Crawdaddy’s.

“We came the next week to look at the space, and kind of fell in love with it,” Hunter-Davis said. “When it was Cafe 1500, I had only been in here and had brunch once. Tiffiney had never been, so when we came in, it was kind of like seeing it with new eyes.”

The space can seat 125 people for events that use a dance floor and has room for 170 people for cocktail hour events, according to Hunter-Davis. A lounge off the main area provides additional space, if needed, she said, and street parking is easily accessible.

They plan to employ family at Élevé, including Portee’s mother, a professional caterer, who will serve as the chef for the event studio’s kitchen.

Both Hunter-Davis and Portee think think that offering food in-house will set them apart as a luxury events space within the city.

“I believe that we are offering something that is not the norm and is not offered currently,” Portee said. “We’re a one-stop shop. We have our in-house catering, we have our bar, we have our in-house decorator.”

Hunter-Davis pointed out that, other than at a hotel, it’s hard to find all of that in one place.

“We’re both going to be at the forefront of doing everything,” Hunter-Davis added, noting one caveat where she alone takes the lead: decorating.

Portee nodded in agreement.

“She’s the creative of the two of us,” Portee said of her business partner. “She has an eye. She sees everything.”

“We call each other sissy,” Portee added with a laugh. “She’ll say, ‘Sissy, just put these chair covers on these chairs. That’s all I need from you.’ And I play my part.”

Élevé Event Studio will be located at 1500 N. Sixth St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit its Facebook page.

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