Park & Go: Harrisburg announces cheaper after-work parking, new mobile app.

February 16, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

After-work parking rates in downtown Harrisburg will be reduced again under a new pilot program for mobile app users.

The “happy hour” rate will be just $1 an hour from 5 to 7 p.m. for users of a new downloadable app offered by Atlanta-based Parkmobile LLC, which is slated to launch on March 1.

“We are excited to be working with Parkmobile,” said Mayor Eric Papenfuse in a statement. “The new app will open up a lot of possibilities for parking specials throughout the city.”

Harrisburg will hold a press conference tomorrow morning to announce the new app and the “After5” reduced-rate pilot program.

Two years ago, the city convinced Park Harrisburg, which runs the city’s parking system, to reduce the “happy hour” rate from $3 to $2 an hour downtown. This rate remains in effect for all users.

Around the same time, the city also partnered with Pango USA to launch an app for mobile phone users. The Parkmobile app will replace the Pango app, which some users said had glitches that didn’t always register the parking they had paid for.

The new app will allow for additional benefits, Papenfuse said. For instance, it will give merchants the ability to pre-purchase parking validation codes in bulk at a discounted rate, which could benefit customers and workers, and has the ability to offer other offers and discounts. It will be available for users of iPhone, Android and Windows-based phones.

The city said that the popular “LUVHBG” code, which permits four free hours of parking on Saturday, will remain in effect with the new app.

Author: Lawrance Binda

City Council Update: More Broad Street Market parking; codes inspection fee increased

February 15, 2017 | by Danielle Roth

Broad Street Market patrons can expect more free parking after a City Council vote tonight to change the designation of several surrounding streets.

Council voted unanimously to make James Street, William Street and N. 4th Street free, two-hour market parking from Verbeke to Sayford streets.

Previously, those streets were residential permit parking for the Marketplace neighborhood, though most of the effected blocks are lightly developed.

Council’s action capped an active few months for Harrisburg’s historic farmers market. In December council gave the all-clear for the market to transition to a nonprofit entity by approving a lease and management agreement with the newly formed Broad Street Market Alliance.

In other news tonight, City Council approved a measure to rename a city code inspection program, calling it the “Residential Rental Unit Registration Program,” and increasing the fee for landlords requesting code enforcers to inspect rental units.

This fee increase covers the cost of a code enforcer to visit the unit, a process that takes about three hours, said Council Vice President Shamaine Daniels.

Daniels said that the city and council need to be aggressive on blight and take steps to create habitable housing, especially considering the recent fatal fall from a balcony by a man leaning on a railing.

“He’s not the only one,” she said, adding that homes with mold, structural or other blight-related issues negatively impact resident’s overall health and day-to-day lives.

“It’s a huge problem if the city doesn’t intervene and tenants are at the mercy of the power of the landlord,” she said.

Though the railing that caused Mike Clark Bowers, 59, to fall from the third story of a downtown home did not violate Harrisburg codes, it did violate federal standards, Daniels said.

City Council President Wanda Williams sent nine measures, including a resolution on the Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, which would further regionalize bus transit to committees for further discussion.

Author: Danielle Roth

State Sale: Report released on future of Harrisburg State Hospital.

February 14, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

The vast former Harrisburg State Hospital grounds should hit the market next year.

The state should move quickly to sell the former Harrisburg State Hospital grounds, potentially transforming the lightly developed area into a mix of commercial and residential uses, while preserving some of its historic structures and open spaces, according to a report just sent to the General Assembly.

The 161-page report by Lancaster-based RGS Associates recommends selling the entire 295-acre property as a single package at first. If a buyer can’t be found after a 180-day bidding period, the state should consider breaking up the land into four separate, saleable parcels, the report states.

“The Department of General Services fully supports the top recommendation to sell all four parcels together in order to put forth the most appealing opportunity for potential developers and enable them to develop the property in a way that will be most beneficial to the community,” said state General Services Secretary Curt Topper.

Nearly all of the land lies in Susquehanna Township. Only five acres is in Harrisburg proper. The RGS report recommends putting the property on the market in the first quarter of 2018.

The vast property, which extends in a meandering, broken path from N. Cameron Street to I-81, is best suited for a mix of commercial and residential uses, such as houses, businesses and hotels, said the report. However, RGS recommends putting in place a restrictive covenant to preserve three of the most historic structures on the property: the dedication stone for the original 1851 main building, the 1854 Dixmont Cottage and the 1854 Dix Library.

“These buildings represent the significant movement Dorthea (sic) Dix led in establishing facilities across the state and country for the care of the mentally ill and emotionally challenged individuals,” according to the report.

The state also should place a “high priority” on protecting and preserving other Victorian-era buildings that form the Beaux Arts core of the State Hospital campus, the report states.

Moreover, Harrisburg’s five acres off of N. Cameron Street should remain undeveloped, as much of the property lies in the floodplain.

The report includes an appraisal, which gives the 132-acre parcel containing most of the State Hospital buildings a current negative value of about $8 million. The value is negative due to the high cost of asbestos abatement and demolition of existing structures. However, the value would improve to negative-$950,000 if the state made certain improvements before selling, such as utility separation and substantial asbestos abatement.

The report makes clear that the state should try to sell the four parcels together to reduce the complexity of the transaction and to mitigate the negative value of the State Hospital parcel.

The state still occupies some buildings on the grounds. However, it plans to move its remaining 800 workers to new office space before the property is put on the market.

“We look forward to working with the Pennsylvania General Assembly to get the DGS Annex off of the commonwealth’s inventory and back onto the local tax rolls where it can contribute to the economy,” Topper said. “In addition, the sale would free up the $5 million in annual carrying costs associated with the DGS Annex and allow those taxpayer dollars to be put to better use elsewhere in state government.”

To read the full report, visit https://www.dgs.pa.gov/Documents/Real%20Estate%20Forms/DGS_HarrisburgAnnex_FinalReport_02-14-2017.pdf

Click here for our prior feature story on the future of the Harrisburg State Hospital.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Parking Tweeked: More free spaces, but changes come with a cost.

February 13, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

A Park Harrisburg worker assists a customer with a meter in downtown Harrisburg.

There’s some good news for folks who need to stop downtown briefly to pick up a coffee, dry cleaning or a snack.

Park Harrisburg has announced that it will expand a program that allows 15 minutes of free parking in downtown Harrisburg.

Last year, under pressure from the city administration and business owners, Harrisburg’s parking operator agreed to permit a quarter-hour of free parking in four loading zones along busy N. 2^nd Street. Starting Wednesday, that program will be expanded to 26 zones throughout the central business district.

“This solution was developed based on feedback provided by business owners in the CBD,” said Chris Sherman, an SP+ senior vice president. “The solution has been a success, making an expansion of the program the logical next step.”

Neither SP+ nor Park Harrisburg immediately stated where those zones would be, but they will be marked by signage. In addition, curbs in the zones will be painted white.

For this carrot, though, there’s also a stick.

Starting Wednesday, Park Harrisburg will stop permitting those using a credit card to buy only a half-hour of parking. Credit card users must purchase at least one full hour of parking, which costs $3 downtown and $1.50 in Midtown and south of downtown. Afterwards, they can extend their parking sessions in half-hour increments.

When using coins, motorists can continue to buy parking in smaller amounts. For a quarter, parkers get five minutes of time downtown and 10 minutes elsewhere.

For more information about Park Harrisburg’s rates, visit www.parkharrisburg.com.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 9, 2017 | by Sara Bozich

From a month of almost nothing to a packed weekend. Tonight, join us at the GK Visual office in Midtown for some free live, local music.

Friday will be low-key, maybe a movie, then Saturday is the usual Next Step Performance workout followed by my weekly visit to Broad Street Market (I’m excited to pick up my first CSA share from North Mountain Pastures).

After, maybe a trip to The Great American Outdoors Show.

On Sunday, I’m thinking an at-home brunch — but later, we’re doing note for Valentine’s Day.

What are you doing this weekend?

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Up or Down? School Board to vote on new arts charter school at next meeting

February 7, 2017 | by Danielle Roth

The former building for Bishop McDevitt High School has sat vacant since 2012.

The former home of Bishop McDevitt High School may become an arts-centered charter school, pending a vote by the Harrisburg school board.

On Feb. 21, the board is slated to decide whether to grant a charter to the newly formed Arts to the Core Charter School. The school incorporates music, dance, visual arts and theater into teaching core curriculum to kindergarten through eighth-grade students, said Richard Caplan, president of Arts to the Core.

“[The arts are] an attraction for kids going to school,” he said. “The arts cater to a lot of different learning pathways. Some kids learn better by physically doing things.”

If approved, Arts to the Core will open in September for the 2017-18 school year. More than 500 children from the Harrisburg School District have pre-enrolled. The school would accept 300 students from a lottery system to fill the first kindergarten through fourth grade classes, he said.

Students do not need to demonstrate artistic ability to attend the school.

“We essentially write off their talents if we don’t try to encourage them,” said Caplan, whose academic background is in the arts.

A Lancaster-based attorney, Caplan pursued music degrees before receiving his law degree from New York University. He said he “grew up in a family of educators” and has served for 10 years on public school boards in Lancaster County.

Caplan modeled the Arts to the Core school after the North Carolina Arts Council’s A+ charter school program. He said this approach is successful with inner-city children.

“The teachers find it much more exciting to teach because it’s more creative for them,” he said. “The parents love it because the kids want to go to school instead of being coerced to go to school.”

Jim Thompson, vice president of the school board, said he supports the Arts to the Core school and the arts-centered approach.

“I think it’s a good idea. I’ll ask them if they’ll let me come in and draw,” said Thompson, an architect. “To me, having an arts charter school as a feeder program to CASA makes a lot of sense.”

He said the community has reacted positively, most saying that it will be a good use of the iconic, 115,000-square-foot building at 2200 Market St. The building has sat vacant since 2012 and has been subject to vandalism since the private Catholic school relocated to Lower Paxton Township.

“I’m sensitive to community input,” he said, adding that he would not approve the charter just because it would put the property back into use.

Mayor Eric Papenfuse also supports the Arts to the Core school, saying that the school would encourage young families to stay in or move to Harrisburg.

“There’s probably no more important issue in terms of Harrisburg’s recovery,” Papenfuse said.

An increase in population, he said, is vital to re-energizing the city and boosting the tax base.

“We have seen growth among young professionals in various sectors,” he said. “A lot of times, young people will move to the city, enjoy city living and all that it has to offer, but, when it comes time for children to become school age, they have concerns.”

Students would attend the nonprofit school for free. The district would pick up the tab, at an estimated $1 million per 60 students. The school could apply for state and federal funds, as well. As a nonprofit, the school also could accept public donations.

Laws around charter schools restrict the school board from considering cost when voting on the proposal.

“Theoretically, [the district] should save that million dollars by not educating those children,” Caplan said.

Superintendent Dr. Sybil Knight-Burney, citing legal restrictions, declined to comment on the charter school.

Caplan brought the idea to the school board last November after a difficult search for urban school buildings in York, Lancaster and Chester counties led him to the former Bishop McDevitt building.

The building, built in 1930, needs renovations, including a new boiler, a security system and accessibility updates per the Americans with Disabilities Act, he said. This construction will take four to six months and cost more than $2 million, an expense Caplan said he will pay out of pocket.

Arts to the Core will complete the purchase of the school from the Harrisburg Catholic Diocese contingent on the charter’s approval from the school board, he said. If the board approves the charter, Caplan said he will move ahead with renovations and hiring staff. He said 12 people have expressed interest in heading the school.

For more information about the Arts to the Core Charter School, please visit the Facebook page.

Author: Danielle Roth

Petitioning Party: Democratic candidates to hold open house

February 6, 2017 | by Danielle Roth

Center: City Council members Shamaine Daniels and Wanda Williams

For the past few months, Harrisburg’s local political scene has been almost as dormant as the barren dogwood trees that line parts of Front Street.

But, as spring approaches, the atmosphere seems to be warming up, with several fundraisers planned, including a multiple-candidate petition-signing party hosted by city Treasurer Dan Miller.

On Feb. 19, Miller will hold the party at his house, and eight Democratic candidates are expected to attend, including incumbent Council President Wanda Williams and mayoral challenger Gloria Martin-Roberts.

“This event is welcome to anyone who wants to sign petitions for Democrats who are good candidates for office,” Miller said. “You can talk to [the candidates], have some stuff to eat and drink, and discuss whatever you’d like.”

The list of participating candidates includes Martin-Roberts, who is challenging Mayor Eric Papenfuse, and council incumbents Williams, Shamaine Daniels and Ben Allatt. Council challenger Dave Madsen also is expected to attend. Four of city council’s seven seats are up for grabs.

Other expected attendees are Lori Serratelli for judge, Diane Bowman for Dauphin County prothonotary and incumbent Charlie DeBrunner for city controller. Miller himself is running for re-election as treasurer.

To run for office, completed petitions must be turned in by March 7. The primary election is May 16.

Miller said this event is not an endorsement of these candidates.

“These are people who I know who are running,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t endorse these people. I’m just trying to help them out, frankly.”

Those interested in public office need 100 signatures on petitions to run. This can be a long process of going door to door to collect signatures.

“It doesn’t sound that bad, but the thing is this that they all must be Democrats, registered [to vote] and signed correctly,” he said.

Those who are not registered to vote can register at the event.

Miller will be sending out invitations to his Uptown neighbors who are registered Democrats. The event is open to anyone who is interested in supporting these candidates.

“I don’t want people to feel intimidated because maybe they don’t know me,” he said.

For more information about the open house, visit the Facebook event.

Author: Danielle Roth

History for Sale: Harrisburg’s Zembo Shrine Put on the Market

February 3, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

The stunning Zembo Shrine

One of Harrisburg’s most unique historic buildings is up for sale, as the Zembo Shriners have placed their iconic temple on the market.

A few weeks ago, the Lemoyne-based Bill Gladstone Group listed the 62,621-square-foot building for sale for $950,000.

The building, at N. 3rd and Division streets, long has been home to the Shriners, the Harrisburg affiliate of the international fraternity that follows Masonic principles. In addition to serving as meeting space for the society, the building may be best known throughout central PA for hosting the annual Zembo Shrine circus, in addition to many other large-scale events.

“It’s been a kick in the gut,” said Michael T. Govora Jr., a past potentate of the Zembo Shriners. “But we simply can’t afford to do it anymore. It’s a matter of manpower and money.”

Govora said that aging and declining membership, as well as increasing costs for such expenses as property taxes and utilities, are forcing the sale. Moreover, the Shriners want to make certain that they’re able to continue with their principal mission—raising money for 22 children’s hospitals.

“We’re looking at this as a positive,” Govora said. “We’re looking for our fraternity to be fruitful for years to come and not run out of money keeping something we can’t afford.”

The local organization currently has about 2,200 members, he said, down from about 10,000 four decades ago.

Built in 1928-29, Zembo was designed in the Moorish Revival style, with flourishes of Art Deco, by noted local architect Charles Howard Lloyd. The Shriners selected Lloyd’s design following a heated competition involving some of Harrisburg’s best-known architects, according to “Building Harrisburg,” Ken Frew’s history of the city’s architecture. Zembo cost about $1 million to build.

Both Govora and Gladstone said that it may take awhile to sell the cavernous stone-and-masonry building, given its unique design and features, which include rooms full of dazzling, imported tiles, a large auditorium, a 120-foot minaret and 300 parking spaces.

“So much history is attached to it, so many events have been held there,” Gladstone said. “To their credit, they realized that the time had come to sell.”

David Morrison, executive director of Historic Harrisburg Association, described Zembo as “the second-most iconic building in Harrisburg after the Capitol.”

“It’s played a huge role in the community,” he said. “A lot of events have taken place there over so many years–presidential candidates, important performers. So, its history is unique.”

Morrison said he expects another institutional user would be most interested in the property.

“Across the street, you have the William Penn campus,” he said. “That makes it a unique district, and the centerpiece is the Zembo center.”

As for the Shriners, Govora said that sale of the property will help them survive as a group and continue their mission. They may ask the buyer to lease back meeting space to them or they might find another, smaller location in the Harrisburg area.

“There’s no need for people to get too nervous because we’re not going anywhere as a fraternity,” he said.

To learn more about sale of the Zembo Shrine, visit https://billgladstone.com/Listings/Commercial/Sale/2801_North_Third_Street/2801_North_Third_Street.html.

Author: Lawrance Binda

Weekend Roundup with Sara Bozich

February 2, 2017 | by Sara Bozich

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties because it’s COOOLD out there!

Happy Candlesmas, or Groundhog Day! My long and everlasting love for quaint Pennsylvania charm comes honestly. I’ve probably told you this, but my college friend’s dad is the Fair Weatherman, and my senior year of college, we went to Gobbler’s Knob with him for the weekend, and I wrote about it for The Holcad, my college newspaper, which let me have a column about whatever the hell I felt like writing about.

I’m excited to get together with some friends I haven’t spent much time with recently. I think Roots is (finally) on my agenda, but I haven’t planned beyond that (maybe some live music on Friday).

Don’t forget, Steelers Nation, #RiseUp on Sunday. Defeat Evil Belichick.

What are you doing this weekend?

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Burg Blog: Pay for Stay

February 1, 2017 | by Lawrance Binda

Who would want to leave this beautiful city?

How much would you pay to boot John Micek out of Harrisburg?

That’s a question that PennLive’s opinion editor himself has been asking his readers in a couple of cheeky columns over the past few days.

The offer isn’t a serious one, but seems mostly designed to have a little fun with central PA’s conservatives, who, sufficiently aroused, are dutifully driving traffic to our area’s website of record.

Micek’s facetious proposal made me wonder something. How much would readers of TheBurg pay to keep me in Harrisburg?

Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. TheBurg just finished up a great year, and we have some exciting plans for 2017 (return of TheBurg Podcast, anyone?). And, well, you know, I still have so many great thoughts to think about this city and its place in the universe.

But I bring up Micek’s column because, often, people ask me how they can support what we do at TheBurg. It seems they feel a little guilty that, each month, they get a high-quality magazine packed with great local journalism at absolutely no cost. Many readers have said to me, “I would pay for this!”

We actually do accept subscriptions, and some folks have taken us up on that. However, we tend not to promote it much, mostly because, to cover our expenses, it’s somewhat pricey. But, if you are interested in receiving a hard copy of TheBurg delivered right to your mailbox each month, you can do that by clicking here.

We also have a donation program, in which you can contribute anywhere from $1 on up to show that you appreciate what we do. For that, there’s a link at the bottom of our home page, or you can click here.

Lastly, you can encourage a company you work for or do business with to advertise in TheBurg or, better yet, become a Community Publisher. Major companies and organizations in central Pennsylvania have become Community Publishers because, while they wish to support us, they aren’t traditional advertisers—or they want to increase their level of commitment.

Following the recent presidential election, major newspapers, such as the New York Times and the Washington Post, reported a flood of new subscriptions, both in print and online. People, it seems, were finally realizing that real, responsible journalism costs money—a lot of money—and someone needs to pay for it.

The same holds true on the local level. Yes, our monthly magazine is free and always will be, as we feel a responsibility to make TheBurg available to everyone in the greater Harrisburg area. However, we greatly appreciate the support of the community. Perhaps that support takes the form of a gracious compliment, which I’m often lucky to receive, but maybe it’s financial support, as we always want to do more in print and on the web, and that takes resources.

So, no, I’m not going anywhere. Nor, I suppose, is Micek. But, in my case, I hope that the fact I plan to stay right here in Harrisburg, leading TheBurg team, causes you not to fume, but to smile.

Lawrance Binda is editor-in-chief of TheBurg.
Photo by Dani Fresh

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Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don’t forget your booties because it’s COOOLD out there!

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