Subpoena Power Proposed
Harrisburg City Council plans to make changes to a proposed police advisory board that would give the body more teeth, including administrative subpoena power.
During a work session last month, council member Ausha Green said that she will amend Bill 8 based upon input that council received from residents during three town hall meetings in August.
“One thing that we heard from the public was the need for subpoena powers,” said Green, who chairs council’s public safety committee. “It’s not in our purview to give judicial subpoena powers, but we can afford administrative subpoena powers.”
Green also said she would like to insert a statement of intent into the bill. This would better communicate the board’s purpose of providing accountability to the Harrisburg police bureau rather than serving as a community liaison.
Many public comments during the September work session touched on the idea of allowing the board to act independently. In the past, people have asked that police Commissioner Thomas Carter be removed as a non-voting member of the board.
“The board must be allowed to deliberate in private,” resident Vishal Bajpai said. “To be legitimate, the board must be sufficiently independent from the Bureau of Police.”
As the bill stands, the commissioner and the public safety chair would both be non-voting members. Green proposed an amendment that would remove them and, instead, invite them to quarterly meetings. Taking their place would be two more voting members from the city at large appointed by the board, Green said.
Council member Danielle Bowers submitted an amendment, as well. She would like to see neighborhood groups formed throughout the city to confer and bring forth candidates, one from each of the seven policing districts.
“I think this would offer a prime opportunity for them to work together to offer a recommendation that they all feel best represents their neighborhood,” she said.
Mayor Eric Papenfuse said he “didn’t have an issue” with the amendments.
Last month, council also discussed a proposed resolution that would establish use-of-force reporting to council and the mayor.
Since the resolution was introduced, the police bureau did provide a report in June, city Solicitor Neil Grover said. The report included the existing required report on complaints with some information on use of force.
However, several council members said they weren’t satisfied with the report, saying it didn’t include everything they requested.
“It seems very high level,” Green said. “It seems like it was very quickly put together. It needs to be kept up to date on a monthly basis.”
Papenfuse said that he is planning to propose a records management position within the police bureau that is dedicated to reporting.
“We really do have a capacity issue at the police department, and that is best addressed by the establishment of some new positions,” he said.
City Shares State Street Plan
Last month, along one of the busiest streets in Allison Hill, Harrisburg officials spoke with the community about plans to make the street safer—a project with an end finally in sight.
The State Street Rapid Response project was launched in 2018 with the intent to decrease pedestrian fatalities and accidents on State Street in Harrisburg.
“There have been more pedestrian and bicycle accidents on this road than anywhere else on the east coast,” said Ambrose Buck, project manager.
The dangerous nature of the street caused city Engineer Wayne Martin and his team to prioritize State Street, hence the project name “Rapid Response.” But the project hasn’t been very rapid.
Buck explained how Harrisburg maintains State Street, but the commonwealth owns it and essentially must sign off on any proposed construction. The city had to rework its plan for the street a few times before PennDOT approved it.
“This has been a long time of development,” Buck said. “We are excited to get it done.”
The main goal of the plan is to slow vehicle traffic. Based on a survey the city conducted, residents were most concerned with high vehicle speeds.
State Street will undergo a “road diet,” reducing the number of vehicle lanes from five to three. Buck said that the project will add protected bike lanes and improve crosswalks, including a median refuge island in the middle of the street.
The work should be completed in the spring or summer of 2021, Buck said.
“I drive and ride my bike on this street a lot, and I’m glad to see all these improvements finally happening,” said Harrisburg resident Lou Searles.
Additional plans for State Street include addressing another top issue found in the city’s survey—lighting. Buck said they will add new streetlights and update existing ones by December.
The project cost is $653,000, with PennDOT contributing $500,000 and $153,000 coming from the city’s fund balance.
The State Street Rapid Response project is part of the city’s “Vision Zero” initiative to reduce the number of pedestrian fatalities in Harrisburg to zero.
New Hope for Abandoned Buildings
Two long-abandoned industrial buildings have a new lease on life, as a Harrisburg developer plans to convert them to office and residential spaces.
Matt Long, owner of Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, said that he and his business partners have begun interior demolition work on 28 and 38 N. Cameron St., two derelict buildings near Appalachian Brewing Co.
“Our main motivation is that we wanted to save these buildings,” he said. “No one else wanted to touch them.”
The ownership group, Cameron Street LP, bought the two buildings in mid-August for $25,000 from the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority.
Under their plan, the smaller building at 28 N. Cameron St. will become the new offices for Harrisburg Commercial Interiors, while the larger building at 38 N. Cameron will become a five-unit apartment building.
Originally, the century-old buildings housed automobile-related businesses—a Motormart used car dealership and Duco Co. auto refinishers, before being gobbled up by Keystone Building Products, which occupied much of that block for decades.
In 1990, after Keystone left, the city took possession of the abandoned properties, and then-Mayor Steve Reed touted a federally backed retail complex called Paxton Commons, which was never built. At one point, Appalachian Brewing Co. also considered the site for expansion.
In 2015, the city turned the land over to the redevelopment authority, but still nothing happened, with the buildings occupied by squatters.
Long said that his company already has begun the interior demolition and cleanup of the buildings, which were choked with trash.
He expects work on the smaller, 7,000-square-foot building to be finished by the end of this year, which will enable his company to move into the space. The larger, 19,200-square foot apartment building next door will mostly be a 2021 project, he said.
Downtown Apartments Approved
The city Zoning Hearing Board last month approved plans by developer Derek Dilks to convert historic properties on State Street and Front Street into apartments.
The board approved special exceptions to transform two State Street buildings into “multifamily dwellings”:
- 122-124 State St. into three apartment units.
- 130 State St. into five apartment units, including a first-floor live-work unit.
Zoning board members split on two other of Dilks’ projects, proposed for Front Street:
- 25 N. Front St. The board approved eight apartment units, including first-floor office space, along historic Governor’s Row.
- 321 N. Front St. Dilks received a continuance until the board’s October meeting after two members objected to the inclusion of only four parking spaces for the nine units proposed.
The city Planning Commission already has approved the projects, citing the revitalization of historically and architecturally significant buildings, plus the injection of residents to enliven downtown on nights and weekends.
Dilks expects State Street construction to begin this fall, with completion in spring 2021. The more extensive Front Street projects require City Council approval, and he expects their completion in summer or fall 2021.
Comprehensive Plan Clears Hurdle
After years of work, the Harrisburg Planning Commission has unanimously approved a new comprehensive plan for the city.
During a virtual meeting last month, the commission voted to pass the plan, called “HBG2020,” which is intended to set guidelines and goals for the city for the next 10 to 20 years.
“I’m pleased with the current draft as it was passed and the fact that we finally have a guiding document, as there is so much development already happening in the city,” planning commissioner Anne Marek said.
Harrisburg’s current comprehensive plan dates back to 1974 and is largely regarded as outdated. The effort to draft a new plan began in 2013, but has been hobbled by delays, as well as a dispute between the city and the architect hired to draft it.
Now that the commission has approved the 246-page document, the plan moves to City Council. Once introduced, it will undergo a 45-day public comment period, as well as a public hearing, before a final vote.
“We have several steps to go to reach the finish line, but we’re hopeful this will get approved,” Marek said.
The draft plan contains many ideas, concepts and goals for Harrisburg over the next decade or two.
For instance, it suggests the development of a “Market Mews” near the Broad Street Market, which would promote development of a “pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use core” of residential and commercial uses. Other ideas include refreshment kiosks in Riverfront Park, a “City Square” mixed-use development along Market Street east of the train station, a downtown gateway and a new “Meander Park” on Allison Hill.
The draft, though, emphasizes that these are proposals, not mandates, and should serve mostly as guidance for future planning and zoning efforts.
“I’m excited for the document to be a catalyst for future funding and development ideas to continue our progress in Harrisburg,” Marek said.
Harrisburg Approves Bonuses
Essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a big “thank you” from Harrisburg in the form of $2,500.
Last month, City Council unanimously approved a budget reallocation that included about $800,000 from the city’s 2020 budget going towards the one-time “COVID-19 bonus.”
“We have hundreds of employees at the city across multiple unions and even in management that have come to work every day and had no option for telecommuting or adjusted schedules,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said. “We feel it’s appropriate […] to show our appreciation for them.”
The bonus will go to any city employee who worked each day without being able to work from home or adjust hours, Papenfuse said.
He said that many American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union members qualify. All Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) union members will receive the bonus, as will a few management-level positions.
All eligible employees in Harrisburg will receive the same bonus, Papenfuse said.
“Thank you to all of those that were working on the front lines,” council member Danielle Bowers said. “I support this bonus.”
Homes Sales, Prices Rise
The summer ended on a high note for residential real estate, with home sales and prices both up substantially in August.
For the immediate three-county region, unit sales increased to 845 from 783 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price shot up to $215,000 from $194,900 a year ago, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.
In Dauphin County, residential sales totaled 385 units versus 347 in August 2019, while the median sales price increased to $185,750 from $175,000, GHAR said.
Cumberland County saw home sales rise to 396 units compared to 357 last year, while the median price increased to $240,000 from $217,000. In Perry County, 43 homes sold, up from 23 a year ago, as the median price rose to $170,600 versus $145,000 in August 2019, GHAR said.
The average number of days on the market decreased in August, down to 36 compared to 42 in the year-ago period, according to GHAR.
Home sales and prices in the Harrisburg area also increased in July.
So Noted
Arts groups in the Harrisburg area received a portion of $20 million in arts funding distributed last month by the commonwealth, part of the “COVID-19 Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant Program.” Among the local recipients were the Susquehanna Art Museum, Gamut Theatre Group, the Harrisburg Symphony Association, AACA Museum, the National Civil War Museum, the Hershey Story and the Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society.
Harrisburg University’s e-sports team is the subject of a new documentary called “A Rising Storm,” produced in conjunction with marketing firm Pavone and production company Cowboy Bear Ninja. The 30-minutes film, available on major streaming platforms, chronicles how the HU Storm went from concept to award-winning team in just two years.
Paxtang Park officially opened to the public last month, with a ribbon-cutting for the area just off the Capital Area Greenbelt in Paxtang. Adjacent to several trails, the park includes almost 20 parking spots, a large pavilion with picnic tables and a kiosk with maps and historic photos of the original park.
Shalom House received City Council approval last month to construct an emergency and transitional housing facility on three vacant parcels along N. 15th Street in Harrisburg. The plan is to build a 9,672-square-foot facility to better serve women and children in need of emergency housing.
UPMC Pinnacle opened a new UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute last month at 1555 Highland Dr., Suite 100, in Lititz, directly across the street from the UPMC Lititz hospital. According to UPMC, the facility was opened to offer more convenient care to patients in that part of Lancaster County.
Clarification
In our September issue, we featured a local enterprise called Lee’s Good Eats in a story entitled “Waste Not.” We wish to clarify that Lee’s Good Eats is a for-profit business.
Changing Hands
Adrian St., 2467: D. Dickey to L. Locke, $75,000
Adrian St., 2472: W. White Sr. to B. Martin, $76,900
Agate St., 2522: Building LLC to Shutter Real Estate LLC, $40,000
Benton St., 616: M. Hagmusa to A. Williams, $57,000
Berryhill St., 1633: P. Terry to L. Cruz, $40,000
Berryhill St., 1708: D. & Q. Springer to C. Zapata, $35,000
Boas St., 422: C. Rosenberg to J. Lowry, $119,000
Briggs St., 2011: Lehman Investments LLC to DTJ Associates LLC, $35,000
Briggs St., 2019: S. & K. Nissly to J. Kelecseny, $50,000
Brookwood St., 2443: V. Graham to N. Richards & R. Bush, $77,500
Brookwood St., 2462: CR Property Group LLC to R. Kumar, $105,000
Chestnut St., 2114: W. & S. Watson to L. Harrington, $165,000
Chestnut St., 2201: A. Carlson & K. Garcia to M. & S. Wolcott, $240,000
Crescent St., 445 & 449: P. Peffley & P. Peffley Jr. to Shutter Real Estate LLC, $52,000
Cumberland St., 1325: H. Banks et al to N. & C. Ovalles, $58,200
Cumberland St., 1713: Jhonleo Home Renovations LLC to A. Everett, $110,000
Derry St., 1500 & 1512 and 1507 & 1514 Thompson St.: Derry Street United Methodist to Anglican Church of the Pentecost, $155,000
Edward St., 504: D. & J. Kruzhilin to M. Roman, $166,000
Emerald St., 241: J. & S. Compton to D. Smith & P. Martin, $122,500
Forster St., 1823: T. Scruggs to R. Gillette, $55,000
Fulton St., 1715: J. Leh to R. Mills, $125,000
Green St., 1203: Fannie Mae to PA Deals LLC & Revolutionary Deals LLC, $66,000
Green St., 1328: A. Koser to H. Radic, $128,000
Green St., 1329: B. & J. Parry to L. Savageau, $132,000
Green St., 1407: Alex Manning Enterprises LLC to T. Yang, $154,900
Green St., 1724: G. Bell to E. O’Callaghan, $155,000
Green St., 2416: J. & P. Manjon to E. Chattah & A. Kachkeran, $72,000
Green St., 2422: M. & J. Villasenor to Raymoore Financial Solutions LLC, $65,000
Hamilton St., 423: Kirsch & Burns to T. & A. King, $108,000
Herr St., 265: E. Johnson to Rosegarden Properties LLC, $70,000
Herr St., 267: R. Joseph & T. Crump to S. & D. Kaplan, $180,000
Hudson St., 1201: F. Leibholz to M. Miller, $126,000
Hunter St., 1213 & 1215: P. Peffley to KS Homes of PA LLC, $52,000
Hunter St., 1211, 1217 & 1219: MLP LLC to KS Homes of PA LLC, $78,000
Jefferson St., 2463: Kirsch & Burns LLC to J. Fritchey Equity Trust Company Custodian, $113,000
Liberty St., 234 & 610 Willow St.: Truist Bank to Nikelemia Real Estate Associates LLC, $165,000
Liberty St., 1430: Lehman Investments LLC to Ten Point Corporation, $47,000
Luce St., 2324: T. Thompson to CR Property Group LLC, $45,000
Magnolia Dr., 2319: J. & E. High to R. & J. Grigsby, $242,000
Market St., 1730: Bee Boo2 Inc. to J. Urena, $30,000
Market St., 1732: Bee Boo2 Inc. to J. Urena, $30,000
Moore St., 2113: Jawere Property Investments LLC to Blue Door Management LLC, $44,000
Mulberry St., 1940: W. Dong to A. & R. Hart, $43,200
North St., 228: N. Andrejack to The Berlin Group LLC, $120,000
N. 2nd St., 936: H. Focazio to J. Criley, $142,000
N. 2nd St., 1522: K. Reiter to C. Togami & P. Hopkins, $194,000
N. 2nd St., 2208: A. Kinsky to E. & L. Duff, $255,000
N. 2nd St., 2209: G. Wells to M. Luft & J. Schultz, $220,000
N. 2nd St., 2412: J. & P. Sider to J. Wagoner, $164,900
N. 2nd St., 2513: D. Graeff to J. Khan & L. Dalia, $225,000
N. 2nd St., 2704: K. & J. Travers to J. & N. Scott, $199,500
N. 2nd St., 3220: PHH Mortgage Corp. to Noble Colt LLC, $91,200
N. 3rd St., 1124: 1124 North Third Street LLC to Keaton & Friends LLC, $350,000
N. 3rd St., 1600: J. Miller to Fratelli Property Investments LLC, $145,000
N. 3rd St., 2016: K. Reed to S. Dimitrova & D. Jones, $232,900
N. 3rd St., 2204: P. Ford to MRI Properties LLC, $159,900
N. 4th St., 2138: I. Druker to J. Almonte, $40,000
N. 4th St., 2443: W. Lawrence to C. Alejandro, $97,000
N. 4th St., 3301: V. Wimbush to Invariant Real Estate II LLC, $75,000
N. 5th St., 1728 & 1730½: Waithe Investments LLC to Eppler Capital Properties LLC, $100,000
N. 5th St., 1732: B. Harris to R. Nagel, $169,999
N. 5th St., 2733: Atlantic North Star Properties LLC to C. Carey, $69,900
N. 5th St., 3202: Slear Family Trust to C. Anaya & M. Cardona, $132,394
N. 6th St., 1328: Wells Fargo Bank NA to W. Zhang, $68,404
N. 6th St., 2134: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to Breaking the Chainz Inc., $180,000
N. 16th St., 25: C. Perry & Habitat for Humanity Greater Harrisburg Area to Green Giraffe LLC, $84,000
N. 17th St., 52: V. Gilberto to Akilis Realty LLC, $30,000
N. Front St., 1525, Unit 510: H. Evren & M. Saygin to M., D. and S. McBride, $114,000
N. Front St., 3037 & 3041: National Central Bank & Wells Fargo Bank to AMR Builders LLC, $174,000
N. Front St., 1409 and 1412, 1414, 1416, 1418, 1420 & 1422 N. 2nd St., : L.R. to D. & L. Butcher, $1,800,000
N. Front St., 3101: Central Dauphin Realty Co. to Central Dauphin Realty Partners LLC, $1,800,000
Norwood St., 915: C. Henrey to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, 61,500
Peffer St., 270: D. Stagemyer & D. Hill to Wheatland Restore LLC, $81,000
Penn St., 1930: T. Holderman to T. Martin, $162,000
Radnor St., 631: CR Property Group LLC to S. Gordon, $100,000
Reily St., 208: C. Hoover to R. Bulgarelli, $237,000
Reily St., 211: K. Secrest to M. Matas, $156,500
Rolleston St., 1249: Atlantic North Star Properties LLC to CR Property Group LLC, $45,000
Royal Terr., 109: T. Carney to JOG Investments LLC, $30,000
Rudy Rd., 2409: W. & A. Krahn to R. Roccato & G. Schwab, $178,665
Rumson Rd., 349: D. Reed & V. Griffin to T. & S. Hardin, $97,000
Showers St., 612: M. Murphy to J. Forry, $167,900
S. 13th St., 1456 & 1466: 4880 East Prospect LLC to Integrity First Home Buyers LLC, $50,000
S. 13th St., 446: H. & B. Nguyen to H. Pham, $35,000
S. 13th St., 1460: 4880 East Prospect LLC to A. & E. Rhon, $40,000
S. 14th St., 1456 & 1466: 4880 East Prospect LLC to Ingrity First Home Buyers LLC, $50,000
S. 16th St., 409, 411 & 413: C. Elliott to Jackson Investment Properties LLC, $60,000
S. 17th St., 301: M. & D. Fairall to M. Caceres & G. Perez, $35,900
S. 18th St., 6: J. Hardman to CR Property Group LLC, $45,000
S. 19th St., 1204: G. & J. Dorsey to O. Banks, $50,000
S. 20th St., 23: J. Satterlee to J. & C. Ludwick, $84,000
S. 25th St., 630: D. Bender to O. Diallo & M. Barry, $59,000
S. 27th St., 701: A. Brinkley to J. Frantz, $135,000
S. Front St., 627: H. & F. Fox to E. Hankerson, $130,000
State St., 1418: Skip Properties LLC to TKO Rental Properties LLC, $50,500
State St., 1847: S. Walwyn to Blue Door Management LLC, $40,000
Susquehanna St., 913: E. & S. Mitrovich to MR RE LLC, $72,500
Susquehanna St., 2005: M. Rioux & H. Perry to K. Witmer, $141,000
Swatara St., 1907: A. Phousalith to A. Erazo, $30,000
Valley Rd., 2406: D. & C. Spigner Trustee to W. & A. Krahn, $225,000
Vernon St., 1351: I. Mirambeaux to J. Frias, $32,000
Waldo St., 2716: P. Lian to N. Salama, $55,000
Woodbine St., 239: D. Hoffman to Hoffman Properties LLC, $60,000
Zarker St., 2037: G. Sanchez to C. Geary, $47,000
Support quality local journalism and become a Friend of TheBurg today!
