February News Digest

February 28, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Gaming Grants Awarded

More than 80 projects in Dauphin County will receive gaming grants this year, as the Dauphin County commissioners last month approved $6.3 million in awards.

Harrisburg-based companies and organizations will receive a number of grants, the awards originating each year from the county’s share of gaming revenue generated from Hollywood Casino at Penn National.

In Harrisburg, many of the projects are geared towards either removing blight or offsetting redevelopment or construction costs. These include:

Jackson Rooming House and Swallow Mansion: $75,000 to Vice Capital for renovating the buildings on the 1000-block of N. 6th Street
Midtown Cinema: $50,000 for a major lobby and façade renovation
Open Stage: $50,000 for phase three of its renovation project
com: $60,000 for demolition of two blighted buildings on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street
Whitaker Center: $100,000 for updates and improvements to its STEM learning gallery
The Nativity School: $50,000 for new school facility renovation
Homeland Center: $24,000 for security infrastructure improvements
Stephen’s Episcopal School: $20,000 for school safety and security improvements

Harrisburg city will receive two grants:

$250,000 for purchase and installation of new bay floors at the city’s two operational fire stations
$$75,000 for design of the city’s proposed extension of the Urban Meadow in Midtown

Other Harrisburg-based projects include:

Capital Area Transit: $96,500 for transportation services for veterans
The Salvation Army: $25,000 for a new generator
Dauphin County Library System: $40,000 for patron computer upgrades
Keystone Service Systems: $43,000 for Capital Area Head Start outdoor education space
Harrisburg University: $75,000 for HUE Invitational security services and technology
Downtown Daily Bread: $10,000 for installation of air conditioning in day shelter
Midtown Action Council: $5,000 for historic marker revitalization expansion project
National Civil War Museum: $16,000 for reduction of debt
Sankofa 21 Institute: $6,000 for student technology initiative
Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority: $100,000 to administer the Foundation for Enhancing Communities/IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade Commonwealth Monument Project

Each year, the commissioners make these awards based upon the recommendation of the county’s five-member Gaming Advisory Board. Last year, the county awarded $6.4 million in grants to about 60 projects.

More Downtown Apartments OK’d

More apartments are headed to downtown Harrisburg, as a split City Council has approved Harristown’s latest building plan.

By a 4-3 vote, council approved a proposal to convert a Market Square office building to residential use.

South Second Associates LLC, a development group led by Harristown Enterprises, plans to build out 30 one- and two-bedroom units from the former home of the Skarlatos Zonarich law firm, which has relocated to Strawberry Square. Rents are expected to range from $1,100 to $1,400 a month, depending on square footage and the numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms.

The developers originally planned to retain the building for offices, but couldn’t find an anchor tenant, which led to a change to residential use.

Council President Wanda Williams objected to the project and voted against it, joined by council members Ausha Green and Danielle Bowers.

Williams said she that, for years, she has urged Harristown to meet with the city or with such entities as the Harrisburg Housing Authority to include units that would meet some undefined standard of affordable housing.

“I informed you three or fours years ago that I want to see a percentage for inclusionary or affordable housing,” Williams said.

Council member Shamaine Daniels, however, said that the city shouldn’t expect a specific developer to provide affordable housing when the city itself lacks an affordable housing statute. In fact, she placed blame on council itself for inaction.

“The leadership really comes from council or the mayor,” she said. “I think it’s unfair to hold individuals responsible for lack of leadership on our own part.”

Williams has said that she expects to introduce an affordable housing ordinance later this year.

Over the past several years, Harristown has invested tens of millions of dollars to convert substandard, often vacant, downtown office space into new, market-rate apartments. It currently is signing leases for two newly renovated apartment buildings on Pine Street.

Jones said that he expects the renovation of the Market Square building, located at 17 S. 2nd St., to begin this spring and be completed early next year.

Arcade Debated

Harrisburg City Council last month introduced a resolution that would transfer ownership of the Strawberry Square arcade.

Harristown Development Corp. is asking council to transfer the arcade—the elevated walkway that connects Strawberry Square to the Hilton Harrisburg—to the Strawberry Square Condominium Association.

Neal West, Harristown senior vice president and president of the condominium association, said that they would like a permanent solution for the 66-foot-long enclosed pedestrian pathway. The city is supposed to pay for maintenance of the arcade, estimated at $70,000 per year, but Harristown has been footing that cost for decades.

Moreover, Harristown has invested some $500,000 over the years to reconstruct and upgrade portions of the arcade, and more costly improvements are needed now, West said.

In 2015, Strawberry Square became a condominium, co-owned by Harristown and the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority, which has transferred its board seats to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as state workers occupy the majority of office space in Strawberry Square.

If council approves the transfer, ongoing expenses would be split between Harristown and the commonwealth, West said. Because the arcade generates no revenue, yet has expenses, its value is negative, he said.

Currently, Harristown has a month-to-month agreement with the city to maintain the arcade, so could exit it at any time.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that his administration believes it’s in the city’s interest to be relieved of potential maintenance and upgrade expenses.

“The liabilities associated with maintaining the arcade properly are more than the city is in a financial position to want to bear,” Papenfuse said.

Several council members wanted assurance that the arcade would remain open to the public if the city no longer owned it.

“The public use would remain in place,” West said. “People would continue to have full use and benefit of the arcade.”

CASA Expansion Ahead

The Capital Area School for the Arts is moving on up—to the third floor of Strawberry Square.

Starting next academic year, CASA will expand by one floor, into space once occupied by Gamut Theatre.

“The move is exciting for us,” said CEO and Principal Tim Wendling. “The improvements will allow CASA to support additional STEAM learning opportunities as well as sustain our academic needs well into the future.”

More than four years ago, Gamut relocated from its long-time home in Strawberry Square to the former First Church of God across N. 4th Street in downtown Harrisburg. Strawberry Square owner Harristown Enterprises has been searching since for a tenant for that third-floor space.

“It’s an ideal space for CASA to cement their future in Strawberry Square,” said Brad Jones, Harristown president and CEO. “Over time, they’ve really grown to find this to be a unique and opportune space for their campus.”

A public charter school, CASA offers full-day high school education for 200 students from 30 central Pennsylvania school districts.

According to CASA, the new, third-floor space above the food court will add classrooms, a science lab and several other academic spaces, bringing the school’s footprint to about 25,000 square feet over the first and third floors of Strawberry Square.

For the past several years, CASA has been leasing additional classroom space from Temple University Harrisburg, which is located on the other end of the office, residential and retail complex. The expansion should eliminate the need for that space.

Work on the new space, totaling about 10,000 square feet, is expected to start soon, with completion in time for the 2020-21 school year. To pay for the lease and the build-out, the CASA Charter School Foundation has begun a campaign to raise $1.6 million.

To contribute to the CASA Charter School Foundation’s capital campaign, visit www.CASAFound.org.

Monument Receives Funds

A monument honoring voting rights and Harrisburg history is a step closer to reality, as the project last month received more than $100,000 in new funding.

At a city hall press conference, the Commonwealth Monument Project received several large checks and pledges that will enable work to begin on critical aspects of the multi-part statue.

The city, the Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) and philanthropist Peggy Grove all announced additional support for the monument planned for the lawn of the Capitol’s Irvis office building at N. 4th and Walnut streets.

“It’s a wonderful and incredibly important day,” said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “The monument, which has been a vision for so long, will become a reality.”

In its 2020 budget, the city pledged $25,000 to help build the base of the monument if organizers could raise a $25,000 matching grant. TFEC now has provided that match.

The $360,000 monument, called “A Gathering at the Crossroads,” consists of three distinct aspects, all crafted by Lancaster-based A.R.T. Enterprises.

The first, the orator’s pedestal, depicts scenes of Harrisburg’s old 8th Ward, which was demolished to expand the Capitol complex. It already has been completed.

The second consists of life-sized figures of four important figures in Harrisburg history: civil rights activist William Howard Day, journalist and lawyer Thomas Morris Chester, musician and restaurateur Jacob T. Compton and abolitionist and suffragist Francis Ellen Walker Harper.

In addition to honoring the demolished 8th Ward, the monument is a tribute to voting rights—specifically, the U.S. Constitution’s 15th and 19th amendments, which secured the vote for African Americans and for women, respectively.

The project’s third aspect is the base of the monument, which the $50,000 donation will fund.

Grove, who had already helped fund the monument’s pedestal, then announced additional support by the Grove Family Fund for two of the four statues.

Besides raising money, the monument’s executive committee has succeeded in receiving legislative approval to site the monument on the grounds of the Capitol complex.

Festivals on Tap for March

Two celebrations, just weeks apart, will mean a busy March around downtown Harrisburg.

First up, on March 7, the city will host its third annual Ice and Fire Festival. The one-day event closes down a portion of N. 2nd Street for free ice skating in the street, children’s activities, music, food trucks, fire dancers and other fun events, capped off by a dozen or so ice sculptures.

Two weeks later, on March 21, downtown again will spring to life with a number of St. Patrick’s Day events.

Activities begin at noon for what’s become the start of the long race season in Harrisburg, with the Lucky Charm 5K/10K. At 2 p.m., the run becomes a slow walk as the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade begins to wind its way through the downtown.

The parade will feature six Irish pipe and drum bands, fire trucks, floats, Irish dance groups and other entertainers, in addition to numerous food trucks.

“We are pleased to be hosting this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and are excited to show off more of our downtown business community,” said Todd Vander Woude, executive director of the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District. “We invite you and your family to join us for a great day downtown.”

Several downtown streets will close for the Ice and Fire Festival and St. Patrick’s Day events, which both occur on Saturdays. Four hours of free parking are available in downtown metered spots by using the Parkmobile app with code “LUVHBG.”

Home Sales, Prices Up

Harrisburg area home sales and prices rose significantly in January, with strong sales data from both Dauphin and Cumberland counties.

Overall, housing sales in the three-county region climbed to 494 units versus 350 in January 2019, according to the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors (GHAR). The median sales price increased to $182,000, up by 7.1 percent year-over-year.

In Dauphin County, sales surged to 240 housing units compared to 179 in the year-ago period, while the median sales price rose to $171,000 versus $152,500, said GHAR.

Cumberland County also had a strong month, with sales rising to 229 units versus 154 in January 2019, according to GHAR. The median sales price increased to $196,900 from $182,500 in the year-ago period.

In Perry County, sales also were up, totaling 25 units versus 17 a year ago, but the median sales price decreased to $138,000 from $170,000, GHAR said.

According to GHAR, average days on the market in its coverage area dropped substantially, standing at 42 days in January, down 28.8 percent from the year-ago period.

So Noted

Downtown Harrisburg last month was hit by a substantial water main break. About 200 customers were either without water or had to boil their water for several days after a large crack developed in an 82-year-old pipe.

Harrisburg University has announced two more major outdoor concerts in Riverfront Park. Alt-rockers Cage the Elephant are slated to play on June 18 and DJs Steve Aoki and Deorro on June 26. In January, HU said that Riverfront Park also will be the site of a June 4 concert by the Icelandic band, Of Monsters and Men.

Just Baked Cakes & Pies held its grand opening last month inside of Midtown Scholar Bookstore in the former space of P&R Bakery. Owner Tammy Worthy-Jones heads up the eatery, which specializes in cheesecakes and also offers cookies, puddings, pies, sandwiches, soups and breakfast items.

Matthew Herren last month was named the new executive director of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Herren, originally from Lancaster, will replace Jeff Woodruff, who is retiring after 17 years in the position. Most recently, Herren served as executive director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas.

Changing Hands

Boas St., 221: R. Sabo to S. Hart, $119,000

Briggs St., 221: G. Dori to D. Thomas, $187,000

Chestnut St., 2015: A. & G. Griffith to SPG Capital LLC, $45,000

Chestnut St., 2312: P. & J. Vander Kraats to A. & L. Myers, $140,000

Croyden Rd., 2968: A. Snyder to M. Cabrera & R. Gonzalez, $70,000

Derry St., 2345: Charles A. Sterret Investments & W. Klinger to SNB Real Estate Solutions LLC, $42,000

Derry St., 2503: S. & A. Cornick to J. Cornwall, $50,000

Division St., 507: H. Fox Jr. to A. McKonly, $44,500

Duke St., 2435: J. Smith & Genesis Opportunity Development Corp. to Genesis Opportunity Development Corp., $45,000

Emerald St., 231: Federal National Mortgage Association to H. & B. Reyes, $72,000

Forster St., 1927 & 1929: R. Mosley to K. Santamaria, $75,000

Girard St., 745: American Escrow & Closing Co. to SPG Capital LLC, $47,500

Green St., 910: J. Foreman to D. & L. Williams, $197,000

Green St., 1615: J. Scott to B. Kerstetter, $150,000

Green St., 1910: C. Reinhold & K. Hurst to D. Greenstein & M. Feldman, $219,900

Green St., 1928: J. Hardie & T. Craven to M. Stilegman, $225,000

Hale Ave., 453: KDW Real Estate Holdings LLC to Z. Garba, $31,000

Harris St., 236: Hari Group LLP to K. Kinyua, $135,000

Herr St., 1408: L. Proctor to E. Canchani, $45,000

Kensington St., 2357: J. Liddick to J. & M. Ranck, $58,700

Linden St., 109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 117½, 119, 119½ and 100 & 112 N. 13th St.: CPenn Patriot Properties Midtown LLC to G. Radon, $135,000

Lewis St., 210: T. Keller to Smith Della Porta Investments LLC, $72,500

Logan St., 2247: D. Mitchell to CR Property Group LLC, $30,000

North St., 2022: FBTB Group to D. Watson, $60,000

N. 2nd St., 817: HCH Investments LP to N&R Group LLC, $180,000

N. 2nd St., 1013: M. Weiss & M. Marsico to V. French, $105,000

N. 2nd St., 1503: J&S Estates LLC to C. Carlsen, $184,000

N. 2nd St., 1622: J. & M. Quigley to Three Bridges Holdings LLC, $67,500

N. 2nd St., 1624: J. & M. Quigley to Three Bridges Holdings LLC, $67,500

N. 3rd St., 1116: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to Capozzi & Ehring Realty LLC, $330,000

N. 3rd St., 2317 & 2319: Sam Hill Properties to DAG EKG Properties LLC, $187,000

N. 3rd St., 2333: 2333 N. 3rd Street LLC to S. Linder, $133,000

N. 3rd St., 3115: M. Bhatti to Equitable Rentals LLC, $97,000

N. 3rd St., 3200: Riverside Methodist Church to Kesher Israel Congregation of Harrisburg Pennsylvania, $176,000

N. 5th St., 2630: CitiMortgage Inc. to D&F Realty Holdings LP, $45,600

N. 13st St., 116: C. Castagneto to T. Gilmore, $35,000

N. 18th St., 73: B. Boyer & J. Hoover to E. Morris & C. Perez, $38,000

Norwood St., 919: H. Greene to D. De Jesus, $85,000

Park St., 1939: K. Lewis to L. Long Jr., $60,000

Paxton St., 1621: E. & Q. Rivera to L. & L. Morales, $35,000

Penn St., 1707: M. Carson to J. Becker & K. Talada, $126,900

Penn St., 2231: O. & N. Banting to T. Astuto, $105,000

Radnor St., 403: BJ Cvetko to T. Brown, $110,000

Radnor St., 630: 630 Radnor Street PA LLC to T. Gassert, $30,000

Radnor St., 631: H. Yellets Jr. to J. Fernandez, $32,000

Rudy Rd., 2130: Derry Street Evangelical Church to G. Brown, $100,000

S. 15th St., 922: PA Deals LLC to S. Chatman, $118,000

S. 19th St., 231: P. Trustey to HBK Properties 1 LLC, $41,000

S. 24th St., 608: D. & A. Hoyt to S. Welch, $160,000

S. 25th St., 438: CR Property Group LLC to M. Anwar & B. Sakina, $82,500

S. 25th St., 640: D. Hoffman to J. Regalado, $42,000

S. 27th St., 661: R. Bowser to SPG Capital LLC, $85,000

Susquehanna St., 1330: Frog Hollow Associates LLC to Green Scapes Investments LLC, $55,000

Verbeke St., 208: C. Malloy & K. Sica to J. & J. Weaver, $99,900

Vernon St., 1409: Tang & Perkins Property Management LLC to Green Book Enterprise LLC, $107,999

Woodbine St., 222: I. Sweets to K. Robinson, $36,000

Woodlawn St., 2201: Harrisburg Lodge 12 Order of Elks Assoc. to Full Circle Music Inc., $230,000

Harrisburg property sales for January 2020, greater than $30,000. Source: Dauphin County. Data is assumed to be accurate.

Cold & Hot: Harrisburg gears up for third annual Ice & Fire Festival

February 27, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse speaks at today’s Ice & Fire Festival press conference.

The first week of March is forecast to feel more like spring than winter, but that’s OK with the organizers of the city’s Ice & Fire Festival.

In the lobby of city hall today, conversation already centered around the weather forecast for the March 7 festival, which will feature ice sculptures, an ice slide and an ice skating rink.

But, for city officials, nice weather is just fine, if it means strong attendance.

“We are expecting tremendous crowds this year,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse. “We’ve seen this festival grow every year.”

This will be the festival’s third year in the heart of downtown Harrisburg, which runs along 2^nd Street from Pine to Market streets.

But the festival isn’t confined to cold-weather events. The “fire” portion includes fire dancers, a fire-eater and a fire pit lounge. There also will be entertainment such as choirs, musicians and other performers.

An ice-creaming event, sponsored by Urban Churn, will combine both elements of the theme, as it will feature the red-hot “Carolina Reaper” pepper, to see if anyone can finish a bowl.

Other highlights include food trucks, art and craft vendors and glass-blowing workshops. Up Market Street, the HBG Flea will set up shop in Strawberry Square.

Numerous streets close for the event, including:

2^nd Street, between Market and Pine streets, which will close at 10 p.m. on Friday
Walnut, Locust & Pine Streets between 3^rd and Front streets, which will close at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7
Market Street between Front & 2nd streets, which also will close at 7:30 on March 7

All roads will reopen on Sunday, March 8 at noon.

For parking, the Market Square Garage will offer $10 special event parking from 10 a.m. to midnight. Also, attendees can park for free at the city’s lot on City Island and can use the ParkMobile App to get up to four hours of free street parking using the “LUVHBG” code. Street parking is free after 5 p.m.

The 3rd annual Ice & Fire Festival will take place March 7, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., in downtown Harrisburg. For more details, visit the event website.

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 27, 2020 | by Sara Bozich

Happy Weekend!

Raise your hand if this week got you … Yeah, I’m ready for the weekend too. Fortunately, there is plenty to do, whether you’re looking for local theater, live music, great food and drink or some yoga to find some balance after a hectic week.

And hey, why not turn your luck around by entering to win this free PRESS seltzer swag? Or register for our upcoming Morning Mixer or Pop-Up at The BenMar?

What are you doing this weekend?

(more…)

Harrisburg files lawsuit against state oversight board, demanding greater participation; mayor accuses board of “overreach”

February 26, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Board members Doug Hill, Ralph Vartan and Audry Carter at a previous ICA meeting.

Comity appears to have broken down between Harrisburg and its state financial oversight board, as the city has filed a lawsuit to force the board to fully include Harrisburg’s board representative.

On Feb. 14, the city filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court claiming that the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) has systematically excluded Bruce Weber from participating in executive sessions and other ICA business.

Weber, Harrisburg’s budget and finance director, is the city’s non-voting representative on the seven-member board.

Following the meeting, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that Weber has been routinely excluded from executive sessions and other ICA matters.

“He has every right to participate in the deliberations of the ICA,” Papenfuse said, following the meeting. “They have refused that from the very beginning.”

The lawsuit set a tense tone for Wednesday’s ICA board meeting, which Weber and Papenfuse attended.

The ICA and Harrisburg last year passed a draft five-year financial recovery plan for the city, designed to allow the city to exit Act 47, the state’s program for financially distressed cities. They’re now in the process of making updates to it.

“The ICA expresses disappointment over the current litigation initiated by the mayor,” said ICA Chair Audry Carter, in a statement. “The lawsuit is a needless distraction from the important work of removing Harrisburg from Act 47.”

Her statement further asked Papenfuse “to abandon this frivolous lawsuit.”

“The ICA calls upon the mayor to restore our shaken confidence in his ability to work cooperatively on our joint mission, which is to assist the city of Harrisburg in achieving financial stability,” Carter said.

Later in the meeting, Papenfuse objected to two other issues, which he called examples of ICA “overreach.”

The first regards a proposed “Economic Development Symposium” that the ICA plans to hold in May at the Hilton Harrisburg in conjunction with CREDC. The event includes a $20,000 expense to hire authors James and Deborah Fallows as keynote speakers, the fee coming from ICA funds.

The total ICA budget, funded by state tax dollars, is $100,000 per year.

ICA members said they hoped to offset the event expense with ticket sales and potential corporate sponsorships.

“I’m strongly in opposition to this,” Papenfuse said at the meeting. “I would recommend a greater discussion, especially with the city, before you put tax dollars at risk with a plan for a symposium, which really is a matter for the private sector.”

He added that the administration first learned about the proposed economic symposium at Wednesday’s meeting.

“I think it speaks to the larger mission creep of the ICA,” he said. “I think we should focus on what the charge is under the law.”

Carter disagreed with this criticism.

“We feel that it is an amazing opportunity to pull together the best and the brightest to help pull together members of our community to engage in a discussion of community and economic development,” she said.

Carter added that the ICA was “fundraising for partnerships” and that it “would not distract” from other ICA business.

Carter next explained that, in April, the ICA plans to launch “listening sessions” with Harrisburg residents. As part of those sessions, ICA members plan to ask residents for three things they like about Harrisburg and three things they would like to improve.

“These are efforts to go out into the community and listen to how they feel about Harrisburg,” Carter said. “An attempt will be made to go into the city hosted with nonprofit community partners.”

Papenfuse also objected to this proposal.

“I do not feel that listening sessions are in the domain of the ICA,” Papenfuse said. “It’s another example of not really understanding your role. It’s confusing to the general public. I think it is indicative of a fundamental misunderstanding of what the role of the ICA is.”

He said that the ICA was undertaking activities that should be the role of elected officials, not the ICA board.

“I think they’re wholly appropriate personally because we do have a mandate to help the citizenry of Harrisburg,” Carter responded. “We think there is good reason to be out there.”

ICA Vice Chair Ralph Vartan concurred.

“I think it’s very important for appointed members of the ICA to have face time with members of the public, and only good things can come from listening and talking to people,” he said, adding, “I think it’s a noble venture.”

New home planned for Kesher Israel, as congregation purchases former Riverside Methodist church

February 26, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Rabbi Elisha Friedman stands in front of the future home of Kesher Israel Congregation in Riverside.

Last year, the Susquehanna United Methodist Conference closed many of its churches, and now one has been bought by another religious organization.

Kesher Israel, an Orthodox Jewish congregation in Uptown Harrisburg, is moving from its home of 72 years to the former Riverside United Methodist Church on the 3000-block of N. 3^rd Street.

“It’s really exciting,” Kesher Israel’s Rabbi Elisha Friedman said. “People feel like we’ve got the perfect building.”

Friedman explained that they’re moving because members felt the old synagogue on the 2500-block of N. 3^rd Street was not located centrally enough for their community.

Most families live anywhere from one-half to two miles away from Kesher Israel, he said. That may not seem far, but for a congregation whose observation of Shabbat, the Sabbath day, restricts driving on a Saturday, it entails a lot of walking to and from services and prayers.

“Walking a mile with two or three little kids on a Saturday can be really difficult,” Friedman explained.

Kesher Israel was interested in the location of the church building for a while, but the sale and consolidation of the Methodist Churches in Harrisburg allowed them to begin negotiations. The synagogue purchased the church building last month for $176,000.

The new building is significantly smaller than the current synagogue, so Friedman believes the congregation will save money in the long run. However, with a congregation of about 125 families and individuals, some members are concerned about the size and have proposed an addition.

Other renovations may include work on heating and air conditioning, electricity and bathrooms.

And what about their current building?

Friedman explained they have received offers for it, but have not yet decided when to sell. He is also not certain when the congregation will move into the new building, but hopes to at least transition Friday evening and Saturday afternoon services to the space soon.

The new building will place Kesher Israel in close proximity to another synagogue, Chisuk Emuna, which is just next door.

“One of the nice things is we are going to be close to this conservative synagogue,” Friedman said. “We are hoping that the relationship will develop a little more.”

Kesher Israel also is working heavily to market their congregation and the Jewish community generally in Harrisburg. Friedman believes the community they built in Harrisburg is unique.

“We are really trying to grow our community,” he said. “We are the only legit small town in the U.S. where you can live a full Jewish life. Our hope is that this move is going to contribute to that.”

Kesher Israel is located at 2500 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg, and is moving to 3200 N. 3^rd St. For more information, visit https://www.kesherisrael.org/.

Residents voice concerns over parking, contracting, environment as developer explains proposed Uptown office project

February 24, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Jonathan Hudson of Hudson Companies (left) speaks to Harrisburg residents at a community meeting at Camp Curtin YMCA.

Parking, traffic and local contracting were among the concerns of Harrisburg residents on Monday night, as the builder of a proposed state office building presented an overview of the project.

About 50 people attended the community meeting at the Camp Curtin YMCA, where Jonathan Hudson of Hermitage, Pa.-based Hudson Companies offered an overview of the three-story office building planned for the 2500-block of N. 7^th Street.

Several residents asked pointedly about opportunities for disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) contractors, including Harrisburg-based companies.

“I want to know about accountability as far as dealing with jobs,” said one resident. “A lot of developments have come here, and there’s no accountability to the local contractors.”

Hudson said that his company, which is the general contractor, planned to reach out and try to connect with local subcontractors and vendors, including at a March 18 meeting specifically for this purpose.

“The entirety of that is working and connecting with local vendors, minority-owned businesses, women-owned business enterprises and other distressed business entities,” he said. “That’s a very special, important task for us. We’re taking it very seriously.”

Hudson Companies plans to construct a 130,000-square-foot office building on the former headquarters site of D&H Distributing, which last year moved to a new location in Lower Paxton Township.

The company will build and own the building, Hudson said, for a single tenant—the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which plans to locate about 850 Department of Human Services and Office of Administration workers there. Most employees will move from offices at the former Harrisburg State Hospital grounds, which the commonwealth is trying to sell.

Hudson plans to demolish the existing, low-slung building and construct a modern-style, mostly brick-and-glass building in its place. The company then plans to retain ownership, leasing it to the state for 20 years, with potential lease extensions.

A slide shows artist’s renderings of the proposed building.

Demolition, he said, would take place in late March. The project would wind its way through the city approval process in April and May, with groundbreaking expected in June. Construction should be complete in the third quarter of 2021.

Many other questions from neighbors in the largely residential Uptown neighborhood concerned parking and traffic.

“Do you plan to widen the road?” asked one resident. “Will you have street parking?”

Hudson said there were no plans to widen 7^th Street, but that enough parking would be built on site to accommodate more than 1,000 cars. He further said that he expected no more traffic than was generated by D&H, which had about 750 workers at the location.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who attended the meeting, said that the city would like to make road improvements to the N. 7^th and Division Street area.

He also said that the city hopes, at some point, to be able to build a bridge to connect Division Street with the Farm Show complex area, which might alleviate some of the traffic concerns. The city has been trying to obtain state funding for this project.

Other residents had questions about environmental issues.

“Will you be incorporating green infrastructure in your building, like a permeable parking lot, taking care for the solar array and a green rooftop garden, for instance?” asked Garvey Presley, secretary of the board for Capital Region Water.

Hudson said that the plan doesn’t include a rooftop garden or a permeable parking surface, but that the company plans to reduce the current percentage of impermeable surface on the 10.5-acre site from the current 99 percent to about 75 percent.

The site also houses a vast solar array farm put in place by D&H. Hudson said that the project would not utilize those panels, but Papenfuse said that the city hopes to repurpose the panels, potentially raising them in places such as the city’s Public Works property and on City Island.

Hudson said that the building would meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standards.

“It will perform to LEED standards,” he said. “We’re just not pushing for buying the LEED symbol. We’ll perform just like a LEED building, only without certification.”

The building, he added, would be set back on the site, not near the street like the current D&H building. That would make the property more aesthetically appealing, he said.

The other main area of discussion involved the economy and taxes. Because the building will be privately owned, Hudson Companies will pay property taxes on the site, Hudson said.

Papenfuse added that the 850 workers would pay a total of about $125,000 a year in local services taxes to Harrisburg. That revenue would be new as most of those employees currently work in Susquehanna Township, not the city. Hudson and Papenfuse both mentioned that they believed that businesses in the area would benefit, including at the struggling Uptown Plaza.

“We know this is a big project in the city, a big project in the neighborhood,” Hudson said. “We want to make sure we’re good stewards of our development.”

For more information about Hudson Companies, visit www.hudsoncompanies.net.

Bob’s Art Blog: Hearts for Art

February 22, 2020 | by Bob MacGinnes

“Women Warriors” from “Bootleg Meets R76” at the Art Association of Harrisburg

February is the month designated for lovers or for those who love the idea of it.

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but for those still feeling its euphoric bliss, the latest show at the Art Association of Harrisburg (AAH) may extend that feeling until St. Patrick’s Day rolls around. Anyone who knows me has come to realize that I wear my (H)Art on my sleeve and have for four decades, as that is my wife’s maiden name.

Art couples are a happening that comes with the territory. Think of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner, Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg. Locally, Harrisburg boasts a number of artistic unions like Vivian Sterste and Jeb Boyd of Vivi on Verbeke and Caleb Smith and Tara Chickey of the Millworks. And don’t forget the Walkes from Gallery@2nd.

The latest pairing of Charlie “Bootleg” Feathers and Reina “R76” Wooden has already created an artistic avalanche of energetic endeavors. They ended 2019 with a sneak preview party at Charlie’s home studio to kick off the decade of the new “Roaring 20s.” Those fortunate enough to be there were wowed by what two highly creative consorts combined to create in catapulting crystalline clarity into focus.

The current AAH show opened on Friday with Feathers’ “Jumper” (pictured) greeting guests in the foyer with an exuberant smile on his face. Jumper, being an eight-foot-tall papier mache’ zebra, set the stage for the night ahead. The audience at the 3rd in the Burg opening not only got to see firsthand the outpouring of creativity from Feathers/Wooden, but also to experience “Hear Me?” a show by deaf artists across the state of Pennsylvania. Both shows command attention on the merits of talent alone.

The senses of sight, sound, touch, taste and smell are all essential to living life and are something we often take for granted.

Deaf artists from every corner of the state are featured in “Hear Me?” co-curated by Arielle Mabsoute, a deaf artist, and Linda Price, arts activist and an artist in her own right. One of the thought-provoking and timely works is titled, “Deaf President Now,” featuring a quartet of young candidates up to the challenge. In all, 40-plus works round out the show, sending a clear message that all should hear—that a disability does not hamper or inhibit talent, but can actually enhance it as creativity comes from within. That is what truly makes an artist gifted, the heart committed to making art.

Rachel O’Connor, curator, designed the layout for the dual show and smartly balanced the downstairs “Hear Me?” in its intentional tone in allowing the deaf artists’ works to stand collectively apart, creating a dynamic social dialogue without uttering a sound. Mabsoute and Price smartly juxtaposed pure, unfiltered art from Pennsylvania’s School for the Deaf students next to adult interpretations. The mix is magical. The jolts of joy make for quite an experience for viewers young and old.

One of the adults at the show’s vanguard is artist Sheri Youens-Un, who works in wood—two dimensional with layered pieces fitting together like a puzzle and hand-stained to suit the atmosphere of the creation. “Deaf President Now” is offered in earth tones, a subtle reminder that climate change and the loss of the world’s natural resources should be on every candidate’s mind.

Left to their own devices in the upstairs galleries, the always-fascinating Charlie and Reina plotted out a plan that demonstrated they were at “Sixes and Sevens” in the best sort of way. To quote one of my favorite Burg writers, Sara Bozich, everyone in attendance at AAH got their “hair did”—curled, straightened and curled again. Individually, Charlie and Reina were already artists working well outside the box, but, together, they created a celebration fit for Mardi Gras (Feb. 25). The only thing missing was the line of dancers outside Front Street. The “krewe” that queued were out in full regalia, trumpeting this Carnival king and queen.

“The Blue Chair Installations” had a room all to themselves. Feathers’ on-going commentary depicts various branches of mental health awareness, bringing them to the foreground where they rightfully belong. They play a pivotal role for an artist attuned to the internal struggles that mankind faces over the course of a lifetime. A book lies flat on a table in the room, but the pages come alive in a tribute past and present, with an impactful message in drawings and words.

In similar fashion, Wooden’s abstract expressionistic painting addresses the Me Too movement with a ferocity, unrelenting in the notion that womankind must be treated as equal and with the respect that every human being deserves. Another room is devoted to “Women Warriors,” which speaks volumes, prescient and powerful in its scope. Borrowing Teddy Roosevelt’s “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” the collection is complete in photographs and battle gear. Battle axes, torpedo night sticks and an oversized baseball bat “club” that would make Fred Flintstone envious are all hung with aplomb.

Both shows exemplify the fundamental notion in finding source material for inspiration. It can be found through struggle, loss and self-reflection. Both groups of creatives inherently grasp the essence of what the world could be. If we truly have evolved as a species, then we need to embrace our differences and find a common language through art, be it spoken or signed.

Pictured above: “Me Too Mannequin,” Wooden/Feathers

“Bootleg Meets R76” and “Hear Me?” run through March 26 at the Art Association of Harrisburg, 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.artassocofhbg.com.

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 21, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Tammy Worthy-Jones of Just Baked Cakes & Pies.

It was a short workweek for many, but the local news scene didn’t take a break. As always, we were out and about covering news and events, even as we finalized our March print magazine. In case you missed any of our coverage, we have it all summarized and linked below.

Commonwealth Monument Project got a step closer to reality this past week, as the planned statue honoring voting rights and Harrisburg history received several big checks. Read about this project, who’s funding it and when it will be unveiled in our web story.

Dauphin County awarded gaming grants to dozens of projects, including several re-development and building efforts in Harrisburg. Find out what got funded in our online news story.

EV charging stations officially debuted this past week in front of the State Museum. Find out how these stations came to be and, if you own an electric vehicle, how to use them in our online news story.

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra announced a new executive director this past week to replace retiring director Jeff Woodruff. Find out more about the central PA native who will lead the organization.

Just Baked Cakes & Pies opened recently inside of Midtown Scholar Bookstore, offering a line of baked goods, as well as breakfast and lunch items. Learn about the owner and her offerings in our online story.

Michael Doub has amassed a world-class collection of artifacts related to slavery. Find out about this Harrisburg man, what he collects and where you might be able to see some of his items by reading our magazine feature story.

Presidents’ Day was this past week, and we had the perfect accompaniment for the holiday. In his bimonthly column, our wine writer tells us which varieties have received the presidential seal of approval.

Sara Bozich has some great ideas for your weekend, including attending Friday’s 3rd in the Burg. From music to theater to special events, you’ll find something fun to do on her long list.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral will hold an unconventional special event this weekend: a silent movie with live organ music. Find out about the movie, the organist and all the event details from our February magazine story.

Tri Asian Taste has quickly garnered a following as a go-to restaurant on the West Shore. Find out about their unique offerings, with emphasis on a lesser-known Asian cuisine, from our magazine feature.

Do you receive TheBurg Daily, our digest of news and events delivered each day to your email inbox? If not, subscribe here!

Charge It! Harrisburg debuts electric vehicle charging stations near state Capitol

February 21, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

A Porsche Taycan gets some juice at one of the new electric vehicle charging stations in front of the State Museum.

If you drove past the state Capitol today, you may have been surprised to find several cars that you don’t normally see on the streets of Harrisburg.

A Porsche, an Audi and several other electric vehicles were the guests of honor at a ribbon-cutting to inaugurate the newly installed charging stations in front of the State Museum.

Late last year, Harrisburg made several changes to the 700-block of N. 3^rd Street. This included new angled parking spaces and installation of eight ChargePoint charging stations.

According to Mayor Eric Papenfuse, the reconfigured street and the charging stations fit in with the years-long, nearly complete 3^rd Street corridor project.

“This represents the culmination of a larger 3^rd Street improvement project from one end of the city to the other, which has resulted in new sidewalks, new traffic-calming measures, new green infrastructure, which you’ll see up and down the street,” he said.

Papenfuse said that the charging stations were not originally in the project plan. However, last year, he held a meeting with state officials at the behest of four state legislators who had nowhere to charge their electric vehicles while in Harrisburg.

“They had to park at a dealership and Uber to the Capitol,” Papenfuse said.

Today’s ribbon cutting was attended by city and state officials, including Rep. Patty Kim, Mayor Eric Papenfuse and Sen. John DiSanto.

These aren’t the first electric vehicle charging stations in Harrisburg. About seven years ago, a station was installed near N. 2nd and State streets.

The new stations were funded with a $40,000 state Department of Environmental Protection grant. The state paid for most of the other project costs, including the electrical infrastructure and a new sidewalk, Papenfuse said.

The stations have been active since last month and, over the past week, there have been more than three-dozen chargings, he said.

Before a line of TV news cameras, Papenfuse demonstrated how motorists can use the charging stations with their cell phones and the ChargePoint app.

Users pay just 72 cents an hour to charge their vehicles, and the average charging time is 1 hour and 52 minutes, he said.

The project isn’t quite done. Soon, the city will begin another phase, which will widen the sidewalk on N. 3^rd Street between North and State streets.

Several years ago, the state widened what was a thin strip of concrete around much of the Capitol along Walnut and N. 3^rd streets, but stopped at State Street.

The sidewalk expansion will complete the loop and make the sidewalk ADA-accessible, Papenfuse said. The walkway will remove the parking spaces along that stretch of 3^rd Street. However, overall, the city has gained spaces with the new angled parking in front of the State Museum, he said.

“It never been easier to visit the State Museum,” Papenfuse said. “You don’t even need to parallel park anymore.”

For more information about ChargePoint and the ChargePoint app, visit www.chargepoint.com.

Numerous Harrisburg projects receive funds as Dauphin County awards gaming grants

February 20, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

Renovation of the Swallow Mansion nears completion on the 1000-block of N. 6th Street in Harrisburg. The project has received a Dauphin County gaming grant.

More than 80 projects in Dauphin County will receive gaming grants this year, as the Dauphin County commissioners have approved $6.3 million in awards.

In Harrisburg, many of the projects are geared towards either removing blight or offsetting redevelopment or construction costs. These include:

Jackson Rooming House and Swallow Mansion: $75,000 to Vice Capital for renovating the buildings on the 1000-block of N. 6th Street into market-rate apartments and retail space
Open Stage: $50,000 for phase three of the renovation of its downtown theater
ModernRugs.com: $60,000 for demolition of two blighted buildings on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street
Whitaker Center: $100,000 for updates and improvements to its STEM learning gallery
The Nativity School: $50,000 for new school facility renovation
Homeland Center: $24,000 for security infrastructure improvements
Stephen’s Episcopal School: $20,000 for school safety and security improvements
Gamut Theatre Group: $30,000 for debt reduction on its downtown building project

Harrisburg city will receive two grants:

$250,000 for purchase and installation of new bay floors at the city’s two operational fire stations
$$75,000 for design of the city’s proposed extension of the Urban Meadow in Midtown

“The majority of these projects create jobs and further investment and make our county more attractive to companies looking to either expand or relocate to our area,’’ said Commissioner Mike Pries, in a statement.

Each year, Dauphin County makes these awards based upon a portion of casino gaming revenue and upon the recommendation of the county’s five-member Gaming Advisory Board. Last year, the county awarded $6.4 million in grants to about 60 projects.

The following is a complete list of the projects that will receive gaming funds this year, according to Dauphin County:

Host & Contiguous

East Hanover Township (Debt service for Public Works bldg., annual road maintenance, fire company breathing apparatus) – $745,000
South Hanover Township ($175,000 municipal complex debt reduction; $25,000 PA State Police Museum construction debt, and $5,000 Antique Auto Museum expansion planning) – $205,000
Derry Township ($60,000 Fire Station construction debt reduction; $148,000 Police and Public Works radios; $24,000 The Vista School safety and security surveillance system; and $50,000 C&S Kray Real Estate Sand Hill Rd. relocation) – $282,000
Middle Paxton Township ($124,000 Potato Valley Road Bridge debt; $56,000 Municipal building storage and elevator; and $61,000 Dauphin Borough sewer revenue bond debt) – $241,000
Rush Township ($40,000 Route 325 mile marker signs; $11,500 Generator for Emergency Management Center; $44,000 Jefferson Township paving project) – $95,500
West Hanover Township (Lease purchase of new fire engine) – $200,000

Other Awards

Dauphin County Parks & Recreation Department (Fort Hunter Station adaptive reuse) – $160,000
Penbrook Borough (Sewer Interceptor replacement) – $75,000
Swatara Township (Paxton Street sidewalk construction project) – $170,000
Susquehanna Township ($175,000 Portable radios replacement; $14,000 Susquehanna Township High School baseball safety expansion; and $10,000 Susquehanna Township High School Alumni Association Building Champions Field House project) – $199,000
Jackson Township/Fisherville Vol. Fire Co. (Fire Station addition construction debt) – $19,000
Lower Swatara Township ($133,000 Annual DCIB loan payment and police radio upgrades; and $62,400 Lower Swatara Volunteer Fire Co. Tanker 59 debt reduction) – $195,400
Millersburg Borough (Municipal Building ADA upgrade project) – $59,000
Millersburg Area School District (Security and accessibility upgrades at schools) – $48,000
Steelton Borough/Steelton Vol. Fire Dept. ($90,000 Phase II Skate Park conditioned on obtaining full funding for Skate Park; $12,265 Fire Department equipment) – $102,265
Capital Area Transit (Transportation services for veterans) – $96,500
The Salvation Army (New generator at main facility) – $25,000
Dauphin County Library System (Patron computer upgrades) – $40,000
Keystone Service Systems, Inc. (Capital Area Head Start outdoor education space) – $43,000
Londonderry Township (Debt service for bridge replacements) – $94,886
Harrisburg Rugby Football Club (Design and construction of rugby fields with lights) – $35,000
Royalton Borough (Roadway rehabilitation project) – $180,000
D&H Distributing (Construction of new training center) – $90,000
Berrysburg Municipal Authority (Sewage Treatment Plant System project) – $34,000
Elizabethville Borough/Area Authority (Replacement of Smith Avenue Wastewater Pump Station) – $70,000
Elizabethville Borough/Reliance Hose Co. No. 1 (Apparatus debt reduction) – $30,000
Churchville Cemetery Association (Cemetery mower equipment conditioned upon not applying for one year) – $10,000
Lower Paxton Township ($47,000 Resurfacing of Friendship Center gym floor conditioned upon Township resurfacing leisure pool; $20,000 Koons Memorial Park Swim Club pool area improvements; $350,000 Linglestown Fire Co. No. 1 Air Unit replacement conditioned upon donating old unit to northern Dauphin Co. fire company and not applying for two years) – $417,000
Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority (Solar Farm project debt service) – $137,000
Court Administration for Magisterial District Judges (Debt reduction on construction of new MDJ facilities) – $150,000
Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority (Marketing and advertising costs for acquisition and redevelopment of Commonwealth property) – $116,000
Lykens Borough/Authority ($90,000 Lykens Borough Phase II replacement of water distribution system; $15,000 Liberty Hose Co. No. 2 mobile radio upgrades) – $105,000
Halifax Borough ($15,000 ADA compliance improvements at historical society building; $63,000 Halifax Area Water and Sewer Authority waterline improvements; $25,000 Halifax Swim Club new sliding board) – $103,000
Hummelstown Borough (Purchase of replacement police radios) – $75,000
Harrisburg City ($75,000 Bureau of Engineering urban meadow extension design; $250,000 Bureau of Fire purchase and installation of new bay floors at Stations 1 and 2) – $325,000
Campus Cinema LP d/b/a Midtown Cinema (Renovations to theater lobby and facade) – $50,000
Gamut Theatre (Debt reduction on building renovation) – $35,000
Tri-County HDC (Phase II of 6-unit townhouse project) – $125,000
Open Stage of Harrisburg (Phase III renovation project) – $50,000
ModernRugs.com (Demolition of blighted buildings) – $60,000
Vice Capital (Jackson Square historical site revitalization project) – $75,000
PA Esports Coalition (Traveling esports learning space conditioned upon purchasing a van in 3 years) – $25,000
Reed Township (Contribution to debt payment on aerial fire apparatus) – $47,000
Shalom House (Construction of ADA compliant emergency shelter units conditioned upon securing all financing) – $25,000
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts (Updates and improvements to STEM learning gallery) – $100,000
Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (Retro-fit aircraft rescue firefighting equipment for Harrisburg International Airport Fire Department) – $19,500
Panther Ram Foundation (Central Dauphin School District Nutri-packs program) – $50,000
Harrisburg University (HUE Invitational security services and technology) – $75,000
The Nativity School (New school facility renovation) – $50,000
The Homeland Center (Security infrastructure improvements) – $24,000
Stephen’s Episcopal School (School safety and security improvements) – $20,000
Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc. (After-school STEAM program) – $30,000
Center for Independent Living of Central PA (Purchase of two accessible vehicles) – $42,000
Penn State University (Harrisburg Innovation Park planning project conditioned upon obtaining full project funding within 3 years) – $35,000
Ghost Brewing Company d/b/a Rubber Soul (Phase I construction of brewery) – $75,000
Ecumenical Community of Harrisburg (Building 2 roof replacement project) – $25,000
Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania (Construction of tiny homes community for veterans) – $25,000
Iron Workers Joint Apprenticeship Training Center (Training Center roof and equipment upgrades) – $42,700
Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 520 (Roof replacement project) – $44,700
Heat & Frost Insulators Local 23 (Parking lot upgrades and new lighting) – $43,200
Oasis Community/Living Water Church (Phase II playground project) – $10,000
Elevator Constructors Local 59 (New boiler and HVAC system) – $28,000
Wiconisco Fire Engine Co. (Debt reduction on new fire rescue) – $40,000
Upper Paxton Township/Millersburg Area Senior Center (Senior Center updates and renovations) – $1,700
Halifax Township/Camp Hebron (Cabin replacement project) – $8,800
Capital Area Soccer Association (Ranger Field upgrades and beautification) – $15,000
Catholic Charities (Safety and security upgrades) – $3,500
Central Penn Crusaders Youth Football (Youth football all-star tournaments) – $2,500
Downtown Daily Bread (Installation of air-conditioning in Day Shelter) – $10,000
Farm of Hope (Development, construction and transportation at farm serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities) – $15,000
Midtown Action Council (Historic Marker revitalization expansion project) – $5,000
The National Civil War Museum (Reduction of long-term debt) – $16,000
Sankofa 21 Institute (Student technology initiative) – $6,000
Tri-County OIC (Mobility access for workplace readiness) – $13,000
Vision Resources of Central PA (Purchase of commercial grade facility freight lift conditioned upon obtaining full funding within three years) – $10,000
American Literacy Corporation (Dauphin County Reads Program) – $15,000
Grandparents Involved From The Start (Purchase of tablets for grandparents) – $5,000
Dauphin County Industrial Development Authority to administer the following project: The Foundation for Enhancing Communities/IIPT Harrisburg Peace Promenade (Commonwealth Monument Project) – $100,000

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