Harrisburg will purchase the former M&T Bank building for use as new office space

February 9, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

The former M&T Bank will become Harrisburg city office space.

Harrisburg is set to expand its office footprint, adding a new building in Midtown for city workers.

At a virtual legislative session, City Council on Tuesday night unanimously voted to allow the city to purchase the former M&T Bank building on N. 7^th Street to transform into offices for its engineering and traffic departments.

“This is a space that is needed due to the requirement of additional space for the public works engineering department,” said council member Ben Allatt.

In November, council voted to reallocate 2020 funds to purchase the building for $375,000, which Mayor Eric Papenfuse touted as a good deal since it was appraised at $675,000.

Papenfuse said that the $300,000 reduction in purchase price constituted a donation by M&T to the city.

“We’re greatly thankful to M&T for their continued support,” he said.

The ATM machine currently at the building will remain on-site as part of a lease agreement with M&T Bank.

Papenfuse explained, at a council session in November, that, as part of PennDOT’s I-83 expansion project, part of the Department of Public Works building will be lost to eminent domain, requiring the traffic department to move. City Engineer Wayne Martin added that a growing public works department also necessitates more space.

The traffic department will likely share the building with the city’s engineering department, which is currently spread out among different office locations, Martin said. They will move many engineering employees out of the public safety building downtown, freeing up space for the community policing team, which is hiring for numerous new positions. Papenfuse said that this would also move them closer to Commissioner Thomas Carter’s office.

Renovations and remodels of the building are included in Harrisburg’s 2021 budget. It will likely cost around $192,000 for demolitions, renovations, HVAC replacement and security additions, among other items, Papenfuse said.

He estimated that the annual cost of utilities and maintenance for the building would be around $60,200.

Senior Deputy City Solicitor Tiffanie Baldock said that the city will close on the purchase of the building within a week.

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House of Vegans restaurant in Harrisburg closes, starts crowdfunding with hopes of reopening

February 9, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

House of Vegans restaurant in Midtown Harrisburg has closed.

A relatively new restaurant that successfully got people excited about vegan food has tabled its operations–at least for now.

Due to financial challenges, owners of House of Vegan’s restaurant in Midtown Harrisburg have temporarily closed up shop.

“We are greatly saddened by having to close, but it’s necessary,” said Stefan Hawkins, who co-owns the restaurant with his partner Laquana Barber, in a text message. “We thank everyone who has supported us and been here since day one.”

In a press release on Tuesday, Hawkins said that House of Vegans may look for another location if they can raise enough money through a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to help them get back up and running.

On Jan. 24, he created the GoFundMe page with the hopes of getting enough to reopen and install a grill. As of Tuesday, it had received $2,400.

House of Vegans opened at 1426 N. 3^rd St. in July 2020, stating that they were the city’s first Black-owned vegan restaurant. They specialized in vegan soul food—dairy-free mac and cheese, yams, soy drumsticks and their popular meat-free “Slap Burger.”

Hawkins said that they signed their lease before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but opened during it. Like many other businesses, he said that it took a toll on House of Vegans. According to Hawkins, business declined by 70% from November to January, making it difficult to order products, as well as pay bills and employees.

However, Hawkins just recently opened Good Brotha’s Book Café across the street from the restaurant. The coffee shop has a focus on African American literature and art. He said that the café may begin to carry some select House of Vegans food items.

“We want to continue to provide our customers with a great vegan dining experience,” Hawkins said.

For more information on House of Vegans, visit their Facebook page.

Hear more from Stefan Hawkins on TheBurg Podcast’s upcoming February episode, available this Friday, February 12. It’s an in-depth conversation about the motivation, along with the ups and downs, of becoming a Black-owned business owner.

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Developers unveil 150-unit apartment, retail building for Midtown, latest in a string of building projects

February 8, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

A rendering of a proposed 150-unit apartment building, including retail space, on Reily Street.

Building projects have been popping up in Midtown Harrisburg recently, and now you can add another one–a plan to transform a parking lot into a large apartment and commercial building in Midtown.

On Monday night, GreenWorks Development, along with Baltimore-based Washington Place Equities, presented their proposed plan to construct a 135,000-square-foot building at 320 Reily St. They made their presentation, as did developers for two other projects, at a virtual “town hall” co-sponsored by Friends of Midtown, the Midtown Action Council and the Historic Harrisburg Association.

“We look at this not as being a single project, but as a long-term effort,” said Dominic Wiker of Washington Place Equities.

The four-story “Midtown Flats” building is the first step in making Midtown a denser, more walkable area, he explained.

The project will feature 150 market-rate studio, one- and two-bedroom units, as well as first-floor retail space. Additionally, Wiker said that there will be 85 on-site parking spaces and 65 in an adjacent lot.

Total costs for the project will likely fall around $30 million, he said. The developers received a $2 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the state in 2019 for the project.

The Midtown Flats building is part of a master plan, the “Midtown Redevelopment Project” by GreenWorks CEO Doug Neidich, who has developed in the neighborhood for some 15 years.

Neidich’s plan began in 2005 and included buying the former Evangelical Press building on N. 3rd Street and turning it into an academic building. Across the street, he built the Campus Square building, which houses various businesses. Neidich said that his company also worked with the city on the “Urban Meadow,” the pedestrian walkway that runs from N. 3rd to Fulton streets.

The Midtown Flats project, and several other proposed projects, were kick-started by the federal courthouse building that is being constructed on N. 6^th Street and slated for completion in late 2022.

“That courthouse has now […] spurred the next stage of development along this corridor, the Reily Street corridor,” Neidich said.

He also mentioned a proposed “sister project.” As long as the community responds well to the first project, they want to build another 150-unit apartment building, which would sit behind the first, he said..

“We are excited about this,” Wiker said. “Relative to design, I think it will be well-received.”

According to Neidich, the building will contain green and sustainable infrastructure, similar to the Campus Square building. This may include solar panels and geothermal technology for common area heating and cooling.

They plan to use Maryland architect, Alexander Design Studios, along with local Pyramid Construction for contracting.

Wiker estimates that the project would be completed in 2 to 2½ years. It is in the early stages and has yet to get any city approvals. Wiker said that they will bring the proposal to the Harrisburg Planning Commission and City Council soon.

“We are trying to create something here that’s really about community and about amenities,” Wiker said. “We want to provide a very high-quality experience.”

At the Monday night town hall, two other developers discussed their projects.

Philadelphia-area businessman Kevin Baird presented a proposal for a building with 85 residential units, a 500-space parking garage and first-floor retail space at Reily and Fulton streets. The Harrisburg Planning Commission recently approved a variance and special exception for the project. It now goes before the city Zoning Hearing Board and also must have its land development plan approved by the city.

Jonathan Bowser of Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners also discussed his project, “The Lofts.” This condominium building would include 16 for-sale, market-rate units in the former Salvation Army building at Green and Cumberland streets.

This project received Harrisburg Zoning Hearing Board approval last week. It now must have its land development plan approved by both the planning commission and city council.

“Density is the key to all of this,” Neidich said. “We really have reached the point where everything’s going to start to tip and Midtown’s going to turn into the kind of community that I’ve been trying to push it towards for 15 years.”

For more information on GreenWorks Development, visit their website. To learn more about Washington Place Equities, visit their website.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 5, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley Gittens

Local cafés have teamed up with Bethesda Mission for their #iheartHBG campaign.

A snowstorm may have blown into Harrisburg to kick off the week, but the sun came out to welcome the weekend. Go for a walk, enjoy the weather while it lasts and catch up on the news, listed and linked below.

An affordable housing incentive program for city developers was proposed at a Harrisburg City Council meeting on Tuesday. The drafted bill would offer things like tax abatement and zoning relief to developers that include affordable units in their plans, our reporting found.

Our Artist in Focus for February is Dionn Reneé who is skilled in everything from photography to graphic design, but it’s her fine art that we’re highlighting this month. Click here to take a look.

Bethesda Mission launched its #iheartHBG campaign to raise awareness and funds for the work they do in the community, our online story reported. People can stop at local cafés through February and find a coffee cup sleeve with the hashtag on it.

Bob’s Art Blog highlighted African American artists and exhibits in Harrisburg, including the Susquehanna Art Museum’s new exhibit, “Sun + Light.” Bob also celebrates Lauren Nye, the museum’s director of exhibitions.

A condo building and a potential affordable housing project in Midtown Harrisburg have both received key zoning approvals from the city. A local developer wants to build the condos in the former Salvation Army building at Green and Cumberland streets, our online story reported.

Doggie Delights, a vendor at the Broad Street Market, enjoyed community support after the owners’ storage barn for their business burned down. Two GoFundMe pages for the family have already received numerous donations, our online story reported.

DTLR/Villa has moved down the block for several months into 309-311 Market St., the former location of the downtown Rite Aid store. Harristown Enterprises, the owner of both locations, stated that the national fashion and sports apparel retailer is expanding its store at 333 Market St. from 4,000 to 7,000 square feet, our online story reported.

Harrisburg provided free parking in the Locust Street Garage during the snowstorm earlier this week, our online story reported. The city also deployed 16 trucks to assist in snow removal.

How Harrisburg are you? Our editor has put together a list of 50 “very Harrisburg” things that residents or even visitors to the city can check off. You’ve swallowed a gnat while running/biking on the riverfront? Two points! Picnicked in Reservoir Park? Another two!

Otto Banks, a former Harrisburg City Council member announced his run for mayor, joining an increasingly crowded field of candidates, our reporting found. Banks said that he intends to run for the Democratic nomination.

The city Planning Commission approved several significant development projects on Wednesday, our reporting found. These include an apartment building with eight townhouses; a large apartment building with a parking garage; and a small, boutique apartment building.

Reading a book has become the perfect pandemic pastime, our magazine story reported. It’s also a great way to take a break from the screen and prevent eye strain, which eye doctors have seen as a growing concern.

Sara Bozich has some Super Bowl weekend food ideas to make or order. Not into football? She has plenty of other fun ideas for your weekend.

The Soul House Café in Allison Hill recently moved to a larger location at the corner of 17th and Paxton streets. Our magazine story highlights owner Andre Young and his resiliency, despite setbacks with the business.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our daily digest of news and events delivered right to your email inbox? If not, sign up here!

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Customers rally around Broad Street Market vendor Doggie Delights after barn fire

February 5, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Donnie Farner at Doggie Delights in the Broad Street Market in 2019.

When I first met Donnie Farner over a year ago at the Broad Street Market, he was all smiles, laughs and jokes.

He was quirky, with a paw print T-shirt on, and sold gourmet dog treats—his business Doggie Delights was new to the market, but I knew he’d fit in well. Farner is a likable guy.

As I scrolled through Facebook comments voicing support for Farner and his family after tragedy struck, I realized just how much he and his business had become part of the Harrisburg community since 2019.

“The support that we are getting from the community is overwhelming,” Farner said over the phone as he stood facing the remains of the family’s barn that burned down on Sunday.

He could still smell the smoke as he told me about what they lost that night.

Farner estimated that the fire cost him around $30,000 to $50,000. That included not only the barn itself, but destroyed inventory and equipment for Doggie Delights’ west and east shore market stands. Additionally, they lost new industrial ovens and mixers that they had purchased for new shops they plan to open in Gettysburg and Hershey. The worst loss, however, was his cat, Buddy.

“You never think about this stuff until it happens to you,” he said.

Farner and his wife Kelly’s daughters urged them to reach out to the community, but Farner said they don’t like asking people for help.

Then he saw two GoFundMe pages set up by customers of Doggie Delights, asking people to consider giving to this family who suffered a loss. Community member Kelsey Gesner started a campaign on Wednesday that has already raised over $4,700, and Jamie Mazzocco’s has received $1,800 as of midday Friday.

“They’re always working hard to make customers happy,” Mazzocco, a longtime customer, said. “They give back to the community, and their products bring happiness to our fur babies.”

The pet store community has rallied around Doggie Delights, as well. Shops like Abrams and Weakley in Susquehanna Township and Pet, Bath and Beyond in Camp Hill offered their products.

The Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC) offered their kitchen for Farner to use.

“The Harrisburg and West Shore communities have been so gracious,” Farner said. “Thinking about it makes me want to cry.”

Even Harrisburg celebrities like Sharkman, the roller-skating fish who made a Burg front cover this summer, stepped up to help. He posted on Farner’s Facebook page, saying he is painting wooden sharks and selling them to raise money for Doggie Delights.

“My wife started crying and said, ‘someone is sitting in their house painting sharks for us,’” Farner said.

Doggie Delights in the West Shore Farmers Market is remaining open this weekend, Farner said. The Broad Street Market shop is closed, but is expected to reopen next week. Farner hopes to open at their Gettysburg location in April at a new market called the Marketplace at Gettysburg. They will likely open in Hershey in the summer.

When he opened Doggie Delights in Harrisburg, Farner knew that he wanted to become part of the community, but he never thought he would experience it like this.

“We embraced the market and the customers embraced us,” he said.

Doggie Delights is located in the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg and in the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne. For more information, visit their website.

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Midtown Harrisburg condo building, potential affordable housing project take steps forward

February 5, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

An exterior rendering of the “The Lofts,” a proposed condo building in Harrisburg

A condo building and a potential affordable housing project in Midtown Harrisburg have both passed important milestones, receiving key zoning approvals from the city.

On Thursday night, the Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance and a special exception for a 16-unit condominium building that a local developer wants to build in the former Salvation Army building at Green and Cumberland streets.

The project, called “The Lofts” by Wormleysburg-based Integrated Development Partners, would include 16 for-sale, market-rate units in the 18,500-square foot building. The proposal includes a 32-space residential parking lot across the street, as well as a small parcel on Penn Street that would be used for guest parking.

“I have talked to several of the adjacent neighbors in the area about the project,” Jonathan Bowser, the company’s managing partner, told zoning board members. “Parking is probably the biggest concern. We do have the 32-parking-space lot on Green Street with which we plan to allot two parking spaces per unit for the 16 residential units that we are proposing.”

Previously, Bowser told TheBurg that his company hopes to break ground in the summer and finish the project in early 2022.

The building has been empty since late 2019, when the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region moved to a new facility on S. 29^th Street. The property has actually been on the market for several years.

With zoning approval, the project now needs to go through the land development approval process before both the city Planning Commission and City Council.

Near the end of the 3½-hour meeting, which was a continuation of the unfinished January meeting, the zoning board also approved a special exception that may lead to a new affordable housing project.

The Harrisburg Housing Authority received unanimous approval to subdivide its property on the 1300-block of N. 6^th Street. The HHA wants to split the site into three parcels, one for the existing Jackson and Lick apartment buildings and a third for a planned 50-unit building featuring one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

A rendering of the proposed North Sixth Street Lofts (foreground), along N. 6th Street in Harrisburg

Authority attorney Irwin Aronson explained that, when the two existing buildings were constructed in the early 1960s, the lots should have been subdivided but weren’t.

“For reasons as old as I am that I cannot identify, the two buildings were erected on a single lot,” he said. “No one took the time to subdivide them. In recent years, that has shown itself to be a mild impediment or problem for the Harrisburg Housing Authority.”

Aronson stressed that the proposed future development would not reduce existing parking for the cluster of buildings.

The subdivision now also must be approved by City Council. The building itself, tentatively called the “North Sixth Street Lofts,” eventually will need to go through the city’s land development approval process.

If the project is approved, the authority anticipates a yearlong construction period.

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Midtown, downtown projects move forward, as Harrisburg Planning Commission gives approvals

February 4, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

Midtown Redevelopment’s project includes an apartment building with a community center (rendering, left)

Several significant Harrisburg building projects cleared hurdles on Wednesday night, earning approvals from the city Planning Commission.

During a virtual meeting, the commission approved variance and special exceptions for three residential projects in Midtown: an apartment building with eight townhouses; a large apartment building with a parking garage; and a small, boutique apartment building. Several other Midtown and downtown projects received land development plan approval.

First, the commission unanimously approved a zoning variance and special exception for a proposal by Midtown Redevelopment LP to build a 12-unit apartment building, along with a community center, on the 1600-block of N. 3^rd Street.

The project also includes eight single-family townhouses, with built-in garages, at the rear of the site fronting Logan Street.

Most of the discussion centered around the 18,000-square-foot, three-story apartment building, which would include a mix affordable and market-rate units, according to the company’s partners, Chris and Erica Bryce of Harrisburg and Matt Long, owner of Harrisburg Commercial Interiors.

The building would be built on the site of a long-time community garden, land currently owned by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority. The developers said that they would retain the garden but move it to another area nearby. The project also envisions a 4,180-square-foot community center on the first floor of the apartment building.

Long said that the community center idea originated after discussions with the community last year during a neighborhood presentation.

“One of the most recurring themes was that a community center was lacking in Midtown,” he said. “We want to meet the needs of everyone there.”

The developers currently have set aside nine parking spaces on site for the apartment building, but said they would arrange to have parking for each unit. The Logan Street townhouses would be built with their own garage parking.

“Overall, I’m really pleased with the type of residential housing that is being proposed with this application,” said commissioner Anne Marek. “It’s really nice to see a mixture of not just more apartments but also town home development with the garages.”

A rendering of the proposed town homes on Logan Street.

The project now moves to the city’s Zoning Hearing Board for final approval for the variance and special exception. It also must get land development plan approval from both the Planning Commission and City Council.

“I support this project,” said Rich Gribble, a resident who lives nearby on Harris Street. “It looks really exciting to me. And I hope to come up and be a member of the community center.”

Reily & Fulton

Next, a development partnership led by Philadelphia-area businessman Kevin Baird presented a large proposed project at Reily and Fulton streets.

This project envisions an 85-unit apartment building, a 500-space parking garage and first-floor retail space on property mostly owned by the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority.

Under the current configuration, the building would rise seven stories. The apartment portion would include 20 units per floor: six studios, 11 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units.

Baird said that the retail portion would be dominated by a grocery store and could also include a restaurant, a café and office space. He added that the parking garage is needed to serve the new federal courthouse a block away, as well as provide parking for the Midtown community.

A rendering of the proposed apartment building and parking garage at Reily and Fulton streets.

The courthouse, at N. 6^th and Reily streets, is slated for completion in late 2022, but will have scant parking on site. The federal government anticipates needing more than 500 additional spaces to serve the building.

The developers and commissioners had an extensive discussion about parking legalities, as the site sits within the “no compete” zone under the city’s long-term parking asset lease with the commonwealth.

The developer said that it has an “agreement in principal” with the commonwealth and its asset manager, Trimont, on the issue, which would allow the parking garage to proceed.

“It’s just a question of getting all the stakeholders around the table to agree, and working out the final parts of the agreement,” Baird said. “It’s going to get done.”

The commission approved a variance and special exception for the proposal. This project also now will proceed to the zoning board for final approval and, separately, must have its land development plan approved.

“It’s good to see a project of this quality,” said commissioner Vern McKissick. “It’s definitely what’s happening in other cities around the country.”

Carpets & Draperies

Thirdly, the commission approved a variance for the “Carpets and Draperies” building on the 1500-block of N. 3^rd Street. City resident Nate Foote has proposed creating a five-unit apartment building from the long vacant, blighted building.

Foote said that other nearby projects, such as those on the planning commission’s agenda on Wednesday night, inspired him to take on the renovation, as he lives in the neighborhood.

“I saw what was happening at the 3^rd and Reily corridor and thought it would be a terrible tragedy if this building wasn’t brought back to life at the same time those things were happening,” he said.

A rendering of the 1500-block of N. 3rd Street after the proposed renovation of the “Carpets and Draperies” building

The project does not include parking on site. Foote said that he planned to lease parking in the area, which has several nearby surface lots.

With this approval, Foote likewise now must have the variance approved by the Zoning Hearing Board. The commission on Wednesday also approved the project’s land development plan, which must also be approved by City Council.

Foote mentioned that he’s under some time pressure to have the project approved because his sales contract for the building expires next month.

“I think this is a great project,” said commission Chair Joe Alsberry. “We’ve received a lot of support for it.”

Site Plan Approvals

The commission also approved several land development plans by developer Derek Dilks, who plans to convert several small, non-residential buildings to apartments. These are:

* 130 State St., converting an office building to a five-unit apartment building
* 25 N. Front St., converting an office building to an eight-unit apartment building
* 321 N. Front St., converting an office building to a six-unit apartment building
* 260 Boas St., converting the former First United Methodist Church to an eight-unit apartment building

These projects all must be approved by City Council, as well.

Finally, the commission unanimously approved a land development plan to build a mixed-use building downtown at 21 S. 2^nd St. A partnership led by Harristown Development plans a six-story building consisting of retail and office space on the bottom two floors, as well as eight apartment units on the upper floors (see exterior rendering).

This site, currently an empty lot, once housed a small, blighted commercial building that included the Coronet restaurant on the first floor. Harristown razed the building after buying it in 2017.

That project also now must get City Council approval before breaking ground.

“We’re excited about the project,” said Brad Jones, Harristown’s president and CEO. “We’re looking forward to doing this new construction here in the next year or so.”

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Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 4, 2021 | by Sara Bozich

If you’re looking for things to do this weekend around Harrisburg and central PA, we have a handful below, most of which are virtual or outdoor only.

Need something NEW to do? Try my sauerkraut + bean soup, order food for the Super Bowl, #shoplocal for Valentine’s Day – view my guide here.

Worth noting: We revived our private Facebook group, Cheers Harrisburg. You can join the convo here.

Things on my agenda this weekend: Making or buying snacks for the Super Bowl, Steak Saturday’s feature is yet to be determined … I think porterhouses again.

Don’t forget to support your local brewery! Click here to find one near you.

For your weekend planning:

Our Super Bowl Takeout Guide has everything you need for Sunday
Upgrade your bar cart with these local spirits + fave tools
February is Cumberland County Restaurant Month #CVEats
↬ 5 Ways to Support Local Restaurants Right Now
View our local Restaurant Directory
Local Brewery, Winery, & Cidery Directory
See what else you missed on the blog.

Below are options for your weekend.

Things to Do in Harrisburg + Central PA | Weekend Roundup | Sara Bozich

Are you on the email list?

Top Weekend Recs

#ShopLocal Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
14 places to order takeout for Super Bowl Sunday
Some ideas for self-care
Support Midtown Cinema by viewing films on-demand at home or booking a private screening.
Binge Poured in PA: The Series!

COVID-19 Disclaimer: As always, please click through the links or call ahead to get the most up-to-date information about venues and/or events below. It should also go without saying, but I’ll say it — Mask up, follow the rules, and be nice. And tip extra!

Thursday

The Obstructed View | Gay Sexpectations with Open Stage
General Trivia at Cristiano Winery

Friday

Popcorn Pop Up! at Midtown Cinema
Chocolate-Covered February in Hershey
Banfi Wine Dinner at Fire & Grain (Hershey Lodge)
Try It With Truffles (Virtual) with The Hershey Story
Ice Fest Carlisle
2021 Capital Area Greenbelt Association Awards Celebration

Saturday

Valentine’s Pop-Up with The Vintage Vine HBG, The Beat Boutique and Green Street Makes
Midtown Scholar Sidewalk Sale
Plant Palooza at Ashcombe
Ice Fest Carlisle
What Grows in Winter? Farm Tour for Families at Rising Sun Acres
What Grows in Winter? Farm Tour (for adults) at Rising Sun Acres
Hershey Bears vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Coleman Green and Gene Norris at Harrisburg Comedy Zone
Frets with Benefits at The Vineyard at Hershey
Valentines Wine & Chocolate Pairing at The Winery at Hunters Valley
Pop up shop! with Royal-tiqe, Makeup By AngelMarie, Coffys Collectables and Taylord Rose
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Capital BlueCross Pops American Classics with Jonathan Ragonese and Steve Rudolph (streaming)

Sunday

Ice Fest Carlisle
West Shore Evangelical Free Church Community Blood Drive
Great American Outdoor Show at Pa. Farm Show Complex
Songs & Cider at Grand Illusion Cider
Virtual Tasting Super Wine Sunday: The Wines of Rioja with PA Wine Society
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra Capital BlueCross Pops American Classics with Jonathan Ragonese and Steve Rudolph (streaming)

What are you doing this weekend around Harrisburg? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Harrisburg proposes affordable housing incentive program for city developers

February 2, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

A row of houses on Hummel Street in Harrisburg.

Affordable housing has been a long-debated topic in city hall, but now it seems that words are translating into action.

Harrisburg proposed a package of affordable housing legislation on Tuesday night that would incentivize developers to incorporate affordable rental units into their building plans.

“I am very excited about this,” said Nona Watson, director of economic development in the city. “We are well on our way to establishing our affordable housing program.”

The package discussed on Tuesday consists of several bills designed to encourage affordable housing through the use of incentives like tax abatement and zoning relief. Additionally, the city will satisfy street vacation application requirements, if needed.

Other incentives to developers may include density bonuses, which would permit developers to build more units than allowed by right on a property, explained Geoffrey Knight, the city’s director of planning. Incentives may also include reducing parking requirements. Knight explained that research has found that lower-income households are less likely to own a car.

Developers who apply and receive a Certificate of Qualification will have a set of rules they must follow in order to receive benefits.

According to the proposed Bill 16-2020, which is the heart of the legislation, developers must provide 20% of their units as affordable for low-income households, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The units must be made available to rent at a price that does not exceed 30% of a household’s monthly income.

Additionally, developers need to keep the units at an affordable rent for at least 10 years.

The requirements also state that units must look the same and include the same heating and cooling systems and other improvements as the market-rate units. Affordable housing units must be made available for rent at the same time as market-rate units.

“We want to make sure that what we put out there is actually going to work,” Watson said.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse clarified that the city wouldn’t be forcing developers to include affordable housing, only incentivizing it.

Council member Shamaine Daniels voiced concern over using the HUD affordable housing income threshold, saying it wasn’t specific enough to Harrisburg’s needs and wouldn’t target those who need it most.

“I feel like we are leveraging city resources, so it’s not unreasonable for us to come up with our own numbers,” she said.

However, Knight said getting Harrisburg-specific data could be challenging.

Other council concerns centered around enforcement of the requirements for developers in the program.

Papenfuse assured that participants would receive punishment for failing to comply.

“If a developer were to act in good faith to promise to build affordable housing and then not do it […] then we can revoke the certificate of occupancy for the project,” he said. “Then they’re not going to be able to rent any apartments at that complex.”

According to the proposed bill, they could also receive a fine of up to $1,000.

Council member Danielle Bowers said that the bills are still in the early stages of discussion and will undergo additional work and public comment.

“I would like to ensure this package is very full and robust,” she said.

To watch past Harrisburg City Council meetings, visit the city’s YouTube channel.

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Otto Banks announces for Harrisburg mayor, stresses qualifications, inclusiveness

February 2, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda

A screen shot of Otto Banks, from his announcement video on Tuesday night

Former Harrisburg City Council member Otto V. Banks made it official on Tuesday night, joining an increasingly crowded field of candidates for city mayor.

During a virtual announcement, Banks confirmed that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the city’s top elected office.

“Harrisburg has so much potential,” Banks said, making his announcement via an hour-long streamed video. “There’s nothing that we can’t achieve if we don’t come together and unify. We need to build a city that’s fair, accountable, inclusive and respectful.”

Banks is the fourth person who has stated his intention to run for Harrisburg mayor as a Democrat.

Last week, David Schankweiler, the former publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal, officially announced his candidacy, and city resident Lewis Butts recently stated on Facebook that he would make a third try for the office. Incumbent Mayor Eric Papenfuse has told TheBurg that he intends to run for a third term.

In his video, Banks, who served a single term on council from 2003-07, described a childhood growing up in houses in the city’s Capitol district and in Uptown, as well as his vision for the city, which, he said, includes promoting the arts, encouraging redevelopment and fostering opportunity.

“My sole job and purpose is to restore our collective hope and dreams of what Harrisburg can be by rebuilding our neighborhoods, creating safe and secure communities, targeting resources, growing local businesses, securing jobs for our residents and building a city where people want to come, stay, live and, above all, prosper,” he said in the video.

According to his online resume, Banks has served since 2010 as executive director of the Harrisburg-based nonprofit REACH Foundation and Alliance, which, on its website, describes itself as “champions of school choice for Pennsylvania families.” Prior to that, he served as a deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under former President George W. Bush.

Until last year, Banks had been a registered Republican for over a decade. In his video, he said that he became a Republican because he felt he could do the most good for the community by switching parties from Democrat to Republican.

He said that he switched back to Democrat last year, nearly 3½ years into the Trump presidency, because he found “it impossible to be part of a party that is being led by someone who I believe is a racist.”

Last year, Banks also bought a house in Harrisburg, on the 1200-block of S. 19th Street, according to Dauphin County property records. According to the county, he still owns his long-time house in Swatara Township, which he bought in 2007 and which the county still lists as his mailing address.

Candidates for office are allowed to begin circulating their nominating petitions on Feb. 16, with a filing deadline of March 9. The municipal primary is slated for May 18.

Click here to watch the YouTube video of Banks’ mayoral candidacy announcement.

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